Carol Gallagher, People Before Profit Tyrone Branch, Statement on threats to the South West Acute Hospital & its Emergency Services provision.
‘The rural areas of Fermanagh & Tyrone continue to see no real benefit from the Stormont or Westminster Governments. Despite decades of electoral promises, our roads are dangerously inadequate and unfortunately fatal on too many occasions. Our public transport is virtually non-existent. And as we all know too well, our housing and welfare system is under constant attack and facing real life impacting cuts by the day.
Now, we are faced with a very real threat to the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) & its Emergency Services provision that are vital to the people of Fermanagh and West Tyrone.
These areas are already unacceptably lacking in both physical & mental health services, and maternity care provision. These cuts will further endanger the very lives of people who will now be placed outside the critical ‘golden hour’, where life saving treatment is at its most critical stage, through no fault of their own. This is shameful and we will ensure that any gross negligence of those responsible will be held to public account.
The potential loss of high-quality jobs that are already lacking in this area will not be allowed without a fight and it can be stopped by ordinary working people taking to the streets to demand better.
These threats, to the South West Acute Hospital, must be faced down by everyone. Its great to see so many already involved in this fight and hopefully more will join. There should be no doubt that the ordinary people of Fermanagh, Tyrone and the entire Northwest will be fighting back against not only these threats but fighting back for all their rights.
We will take to the streets of Enniskillen, Lisnaskea, Augher, Ballygawley, Omagh, Fivemiletown, and every town & village across the Northwest to demand that we are treated better.
People Before Profit will be standing in solidarity with everyone to demand that the real systemic change that is needed to benefit everyone is realised.
SAVE THE SOUTH WEST ACUTE HOSPITAL NOW, SAVE REAL LIVES NOW!‘
