Dissatisfaction aired over lack of progress around neonatal services

By Tanya Fowles, Local Democracy Reporter

HAVING previously written to Minister for Health, Robin Swann, expressing concerns around neonatal services at South West Acute Hospital (SWAH), a reply on this was discussed at Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s full meeting on Tuesday night.

The Minister had been advised members were “in no way reassured by correspondence from the chief executive of the Western Trust” and decided to bring this to the attention of the Department for Health.

While acknowledging the desire for a full return of neonatal provision, the Minister agreed the trust’s primary responsibility was the safe delivery of services which “unfortunately is not possible at this time”.

He explained, due to patient safety concerns, it became necessary to make arrangements with other units to ensure the highest standard of care, until services were restored.

Arrangements are being facilitated by the Neonatal Network which works across all trusts.

Cllr Siobhan Currie, of Sinn Fein, told members, “We understand the Trust’s primary responsibility in delivery of safe services, but we recognise the issues are poor workforce planning. People in our district may have to travel to Dublin for paediatric coronary care. This is another example of how that could impact on those who may not be able to travel with very vulnerable babies.”

Independent member, Donal O’Cofaigh, described the continued absence of a functioning neonatal unit as “hugely concerning”, with just two beds, for stabilisation only.

Cllr O’Cofaigh said, “I understand Altnagelvin have recruited but SWAH have not. I query why recruitment states the requirement of intensive care experience but that is not stated in the Royal Victoria Hospital which has intensive care neonatal beds. We need to be very sharp on the Trust and Department of Health. This is nowhere near good enough. If we lose maternity, then acute services will follow as the dominoes fall.”

Cllr Josephine Deehan said the situation was “absolutely critical” and mothers must have safe outcomes.

She said, “We want to ensure acute services at SWAH are sustainable. That requires appropriate investment in staff. The trust assures us they are doing everything they can. We need to keep this under very close review and do everything we can to lobby the trust and Minister for appropriate resources and focus to address this urgently. If we allow our neonatal services to disappear, it will affect maternity and sustainability of the hospital as a whole.”

SDLP councillor John Coyle was extremely perturbed, telling members, “I’m not satisfied with the letter. Final year students were taken out of college to help in the pandemic yet a career path into neonatal services was not pushed by universities. It’s a specialist vocation in the Health Service. We have to liaise with universities to see what services are being downgraded or not staffed correctly, so that we can encourage people to take up roles we require.”

He continued, “Neonatal is one of the most important services in SWAH and it needs to be fully resourced.

“We’ll work with the trust and hopefully this will come to a positive solution. We have to liaise with every stakeholder to try to achieve the best outcome.”

Chief executive, Ms McCullagh, confirmed the matter is on the agenda for the Health and Social Care Subcommittee meeting later this month.