Northern Ireland's hospital network and Emergency General Surgery at South West Acute Hospital
That this Assembly regrets the continuing absence of a long-term vision for Northern Ireland’s hospital network, including the future role, function and service provision of the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH), and other acute hospitals, despite the Department of Health consultation, Hospitals – Creating a Network for Better Outcomes, that closed in February 2025; further regrets that almost four years have passed since the temporary withdrawal of emergency general surgery services at SWAH, during which time Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority reviews have highlighted staff concerns on patient pathways and inadequate ambulance provision; expresses concern that despite the pause of the public consultation on the future of emergency general surgery at SWAH there has been no substantive engagement with clinicians, service users and local communities in the past year; emphasises that any vision for service reconfiguration must take full account of local circumstances, population need, rurality, travel times, transport infrastructure and geographical challenges; calls on the Minister of Health to provide a clear timetable for the publication and implementation of final proposals for reconfiguring the hospital network, including details of any proposed service changes relating to SWAH and the decision-making process underpinning them; and further calls on the Minister to clarify how he intends to deliver emergency general surgery services across Northern Ireland, including in a manner that ensures the needs of rural communities are met.
Private Members' Motion
08/09/2026