Around 1,000 protestors form ‘Ring of Steel’ around SWAH

Around one thousand protestors encircled South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) on Saturday afternoon as part of the ongoing campaign to save services at the state-of-the-art medical facility.

Earlier this month, the Western Trust said that, due to an inability to recruit consultants, they would be ‘temporarily’ closing emergency general surgery services at SWAH.

But many patients in west Tyrone and Fermanagh fear that, after closing on December 18, SWAH’s emergency general surgery may never reopen. Moreover, they are worried that the shutting of emergency general surgery could trigger a chain of closures within the hospital’s acute services.

To push back against the Trust’s decision, ‘Save Our Acute Services’ campaign – a group focused on defending the life-saving emergency care available at SWAH – organised a demonstration they called the ‘Ring of Steel’. It seen members of the public, political representatives and medical professionals come together to voice their objection to the Trust’s decision.

As the rain teemed down, protesters surrounded the building, standing tall and holding hands. The gesture was supposed to represent the community’s desire to protect and defend services at SWAH.

‘We have a ring of steel, we will protect our services,’ was the chant that resounded around the hospital grounds.

As the crowd dispersed, the Herald spoke with Helen Hamill, secretary of ‘Save Our Acute Services’.

“I have just been part of an amazing display of determination and people power to save our acute services here at SWAH,” she said.

“There is nothing that will stand between us and protecting rural lives.”

We also spoke with Fermanagh and Omagh District Councilor, Donal O’Cofaigh.

“About a thousand people just surrounded our hospital to show their determination to save our emergency surgery and our acute services more generally,” he said.

“Yesterday (Friday), the community was stunned by a revelation.

“Contrary to what we understood, the Trust had not been in contact with the royal college of obstetrics and gynaecology regarding the safety of this recent move.

“People were very angry and concerned, and there is no confidence in the management of the Western Trust.

“We want the hospital to be put on special measure and a rota system put in place to stabilise the services and maintain them into the future.”