Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Chair Councillor Barry McElduff visited Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex, hosted by the Western Health and Social Care Trust. The walkthrough followed discussions with the council on developing a health and care vision for Fermanagh and West Tyrone.

Councillor McElduff met staff and toured departments including urgent care and treatment centre, diagnostics, day procedures, theatres, community rapid response, rehabilitation and palliative care services. Council Chief Executive Alison McCullagh joined the visit along with Western Trust directors and senior leaders.

Dr Maura O’Neill, Director of Community and Older Peoples Services, stated that Omagh Hospital supports community-based care through services like rapid response, reablement, treatment rooms and palliative care. These services allow people to stay at home, reduce avoidable hospital admissions and build system resilience.

Mark Gillespie, Director of Surgery, Paediatrics and Women’s Health, noted that the Cardiac Assessment Unit reviews over 9,000 patients each year via a nurse-led model. The Urgent Care and Treatment Centre handles more than 22,000 attendances annually, with over 50,000 outpatient appointments and a planned surgical programme delivered on site.

Councillor McElduff called Omagh Hospital a strategic asset that integrates hospital and community services in line with health transformation goals. He affirmed the council's commitment to collaborate with the Trust on a sustainable care model for Fermanagh and West Tyrone.

The Western Trust maintains a stakeholder engagement programme to develop a long-term care model for the region.