New Consultants strengthen services at South West Acute Hospital
The Western Trust has reinforced its commitment to maintaining and developing services at South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) with a number of key consultant appointments, including a major milestone for Women's Health services
The Western Trust has reinforced its commitment to maintaining and developing services at South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) with a number of key consultant appointments, including a major milestone for Women's Health services.
The Trust has welcomed Dr. Áine McNally as the seventh Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at SWAH. This marks the first time the hospital has had seven Consultant Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in post, representing a significant expansion of the service beyond its previous commissioned establishment of six consultant posts.
Originally from the local area, Dr McNally said she is delighted to be returning home and looks forward to supporting women and families across Fermanagh and the wider region.
Dr McNally's appointment reflects the Trust's continued investment in SWAH and demonstrates its commitment not only to maintaining services but also to actively strengthening and enhancing them. The appointment builds on a range of recent investments, recruitment successes and service developments across SWAH, supporting ongoing work to develop a sustainable future for health and social care services across Fermanagh and West Tyrone.services across Fermanagh and West Tyrone.
Speaking on the latest new consultant appointments at SWAH, Mark Gillespie, Director of Surgery, Paediatrics and Women’s Health, said: “These appointments demonstrate our ongoing commitment to attracting high-quality clinical staff and investing in services at South West Acute Hospital.”
“The appointment of a seventh Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist is particularly significant and reflects our determination to maintain and strengthen services for local people. Notably, this represents the only additional commissioned obstetrics and gynaecology consultant capacity approved through the Northern Ireland Elective Care Framework, highlighting the Trust's ongoing commitment to investing in and developing services at SWAH.
“Recruiting and retaining talented staff is central to delivering sustainable services now and into the future, and we are delighted to welcome these highly skilled consultants to the Trust.”
Since taking up post, Dr McNally has successfully re-established the fertility clinic at SWAH, restoring a service that had not been available within the unit for several years.
“As someone local to the area, I am very excited to be back home. My focus is on continuing to improve women's health services and delivering the best possible care for our patients. Restarting the fertility clinic has been an important step, and I look forward to continuing to develop the service in the months ahead,” said Dr McNally.
Supporting the development of women's health services, Dr Patrick McIlwaine, Consultant Gynaecologist and Western Trust Endometriosis Lead, highlighted the important role SWAH plays in helping address waiting times and increasing access to care.
“The South West Acute Hospital offers valuable theatre capacity, which can help reduce pressures across the health service and allow patients to receive treatment more quickly. Alongside our role as a regional centre for endometriosis services, this additional capacity will help us provide timely care and improve access to surgery for patients.
“The appointments reflect the Trust's ongoing commitment to strengthening local health services, attracting high-calibre clinicians and ensuring patients across Fermanagh, Tyrone and the wider Western Trust area can access high-quality carecloser to home,” he said.
Dr McNally joins Dr Duana Cook, a newly appointed Consultant General Paediatrician, as two locally connected consultants to the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH), further strengthening paediatric, as well as obstetric and gynaecology services for patients across Fermanagh and West Tyrone.
Dr Cook has returned to the area after training and working in England. Originally from Omagh, Dr Cook said the opportunity to return home with her family and serve the community where she grew up was a significant factor in taking up the role.
As a General Paediatrician, Dr Cook provides care for children from birth through to 16 years of age, supporting patients across a wide range of medical needs. Her work includes caring for newborn babies requiring specialist support, as well as older children and adolescents presenting with physical and mental health conditions.
Speaking about her role, Dr Cook said: “The role of a general paediatrician is incredibly varied, and that's what has always appealed to me. We care for children from birth right through to adolescence, supporting them through a wide range of medical and health needs. I'm delighted to return home and join the team at SWAH.”
Welcoming the appointment, Dr Nicholas Lipscomb, Clinical Lead for Paediatrics at SWAH, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Duana to our consultant team. Her broad experience and expertise will further strengthen our paediatric services and help ensure children and young people across Fermanagh and South Tyrone continue to have access to high-quality inpatient and outpatient care.”