Hospital must consult public before permanent surgery cuts

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 15:02 · Archive

The High Court heard that no permanent removal of emergency general surgery at South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen will proceed without public consultation.

The High Court heard that no permanent decision will be made on removing emergency general surgery services at South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen without further public consultation. Lawyers for the Western Health and Social Care Trust acknowledged the legal requirement to carry out a new consultation process, expected to begin next summer.

Emergency General Surgery was temporarily withdrawn from the hospital in 2022. In 2025, the Trust began public consultation on permanently changing services at the hospital, but that process was paused and then closed following a request from the Health Minister at the time, Mike Nesbitt.

The Save Our Acute Services campaign group launched judicial review proceedings, claiming the Trust acted unlawfully and in breach of statutory duty. They contend that officials' evidence to the Stormont Health Committee in November was the first full disclosure of the alleged plans. The Trust's barrister stressed that the authority had previously passed resolutions and issued press releases about seeking public views, saying this demonstrated its understanding of its legal obligation to consult.

How it is being reported

• No decision on emergency general surgery services in Enniskillen without further public consultation says TrustNo decision will be made on permanently removing any emergency general surgery services at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen without further public consultation, the High Court heard today.News Letter · 22 Oct, 15:36
• No permanent Enniskillen hospital surgery cuts without public consultation, High Court toldEmergency General Surgery had previously been temporarily withdrawn from SWAH in 2022.Belfast Live · 22 Oct, 14:47
• No permanent cut to emergency surgery at SWAH without new public consultation, court toldBelfast Telegraph · 22 Oct, 14:44

In this story: South West Acute Hospital · Enniskillen · Western Health and Social Care Trust · Save Our Acute Services · Mike Nesbitt

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem