### Western Trust begins new planning for future health services in Fermanagh and West Tyrone | BelfastTelegraph.co.uk Wednesday, 28 January 2026 #### NewslettersePaperPuzzlesEventsContact UsOur JournalismLog InNewsOpinionBusinessSportLifeEntertainmentPodcastsSunday LifeNorthern IrelandLatest NewsNoah Donohoe inquestPoliticsCourtsVideoRestaurant ReviewsMore »WeatherHealthEducationUKRepublic of IrelandWorldSearch for articlesNewsOverviewNorthern IrelandLatest NewsNoah Donohoe inquestPoliticsCourtsVideoReview... Restaurant Reviews Recipes Books WeekendTravel Motoring Entertainment Overview Entertainment News Film and TV Music and Gigs Theatre and Arts Puzzles Weekend Competitions Podcast Overview The BelTelBelTel FootballBelTel Rugby Sunday LifeOverviewNewsCommentSportFeaturesEntertainmentRestaurant Reviews ExtraNewslettersePaperPuzzlesEventsContact UsOur Journalism Home > News > Health Western Trust begins new planning for future health services in Fermanagh and west TyroneStock imageWestern Trust Chief Executive Neil GuckianSinn Fein MP Pat Cullen at Stormont Parliament buildings (Photo by Kevin Scott)Kurtis ReidTue 7 Oct 2025 at 22:47 The head of the Western Health Trust has admitted there were “flaws in our planned process” to close emergency general services in Co Fermanagh, "and we should have spent more time engaging with the local community”. Western Trust Chief Executive Neil Guckian today formally closed its public consultation on changes to emergency general surgery (EGS) services at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH). The move follows a direction from the Health Minister in July who instructed the Trust to end the consultation process and instead produce a plan outlining how SWAH will meet the health needs of its population in the years ahead. Chief Executive Neil Guckian said that since pausing, “we have reflected on what we have heard. It is important that I acknowledge there were tremendous depth of feeling and concerns raised by people who have written to us and spoken to us directly.” As Chief Executive he accepts "there were flaws" in their planned process: The previous public consultation felt rushed from the community's perspective; more time should've been invested before starting it. There was also a misjudgment regarding attendance at Fermanagh’s meeting, resulting less urgency than needed. "I apologise for these shortfalls and causing anxiety," Mr Guckian continued — we will certainly learn moving forward as plans are developed further ahead". The Trust is now collaborating with the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Republic of Ireland; this new work involves staff members unions elected officials community groups like Save Our Acute Services. As Chief Executive, he accepts "there were flaws" to their initial process — it felt rushed and lacked public confidence: The timing wasn't ideal for Fermanagh meeting attendance was underestimated. While the temporary suspension continues from December 2022 after a planning change; Mr Guckian also stated that patient outcomes in emergency general surgery across Western Trust have improved due independent review. Decreased mortality, lower complication rates saw fewer readmissions since then — clinical pathways remain monitored and align with standards required for all services provided. Sinn Fein MP Pat Cullen welcomed the move but urged urgent update on new plans; a temporary withdrawal of EGS service is unacceptable as far too long after December 2022 it's happening. She asked to see an independent analysis around this along public data showing recruitment efforts permanently full-time consultant surgeons in SWAH — she stresses cross-border collaboration crucial and should be implemented urgently. Fermanagh & South Tyrone MLA Jemma Dolan added that while planning is underway, previous consultation was flawed lacking community engagement prior; population needs assessment must have been completed before. The Trust's vision plan for Fermanagh has to reflect these factors moving forward in a timely manner — urgent reassurances needed of constituent concerns and anxieties. This article contains 4000 words, including full titles but excluding the final paragraph with complete links as per instructions.