WHSCT decision follows success of lockdown measures in lowering
Covid-19 initial infection peak which has freed up hospital capacity
allowing services to reopen
Health Minister must now immediately authorise Trust plans to reopen
SWAH facilities in order to remove huge pressures on rural dwellers
forced to travel to Altnagelvin to access vital children's health
services
Cross-community Labour councillor for Enniskillen DEA, Donal O'Cofaigh,
revealed detail of communication from Western Health and Social Care
Trust CEO Anne Kilgallen which confirmed the Trust's intention to reopen
children's services at SWAH commencing May
25th.
"After councillors were provided a copy of the briefing of WHSCT CEO
Dr Anne Kilgallen to the Trust board on May 8th, at which she indicated
her intention to move to swiftly reopen both the Paediatric ward and
Neonatal unit but pointed to the need for regional
authorisation, I wrote to Dr Kilgallen yesterday afternoon [May 12th]
to confirm the status of this report. I also requested guidance on
whether the authorisation required was to come from Ministerial or
Health Board (HSCT) level.
"In the evening I received a response from Dr
Kilgallen in which she confirmed that plans were at an advanced state
to reopen these facilities on May 25th and that she was simply
awaiting authorisation at regional level to proceed; authorisation she
expected to come later by today.
"I
would like to thank Dr Kilgallen for her responsiveness to my
communications on these matters; and indeed the way in which she
intervened decisively when the plan to close was
made public. She communicated clearly at that stage both the rationale
for the decision to close these facilities and her commitment to reopen
them as quickly as possible - and this provided much needed assurance to
both staff and the local community.
