One Voice.
Fermanagh’s Voice.
FERMANAGH HAS FOUND ITS VOICE
The most recently convened SOAS meeting sent a powerful message to the Western Trust and the Stormont Assembly that the people of Fermanagh and West Tyrone will not accept to be sidelined in any decision-making process regarding access to acute services at SWAH.
For three long years the leadership of SOAS were lonely voices crying in the wilderness, ignored by authorities and the political class, while garnering support from the public who still appeared unconvinced about the likelihood of reversing the abrupt decision to halt the acute services. Yet the campaigners never gave up and earlier this year provided a clear road map for the way forward.
That document provided powerful options for discussion with the Western Trust and the Assembly. The public became enthusiastic about the roadmap and attendances increased at the public forums. The politicians began to catch-up when their silence and absence had suggested that the decision to permanently cease the acute services was a done-deal.
The Western Trust were unprepared for such public anger over their negligence and they tried to hurriedly push through their plans without any meaningful consultation with the people who were most affected by the current appalling services. That backfired as we all know, and the hitherto indifferent Health Minister Mike Nesbitt was obliged to intervene and then stop the so-called ‘consultation’ process. This was a minor but significant victory for SOAS and the people. The larger battle has still to be won.
Fermanagh – for decades a political backwater – has at last found its voice. The outrage is evident but the fire must be continuously kindled. This community has been traumatised and exhausted from the struggles emerging from the troubles. There was little enthusiasm for protests or campaigns that went beyond political or sectarian demands. SOAS, however, has managed to unite the whole community and traversed political or religious differences. This is quite an achievement in that everyone is equally at risk from the lack of acute services.
The next few months will make watching interesting but still requires total community participation. Down the road, other major issues like roads, job creation, poverty and marginalisation require more energy if Fermanagh’s voice will continue to be heard loud and clearly.
Fr Gabriel Dolan, Aghadrumsee.
