More than 30 'adverse incidents' involving transfer of patients at Altnagelvin

NI Ambulance Service (NIAS) data has confirmed there have been 35 ‘adverse incidents’ involving the transfer of patients to Altnagelvin Hospital from Enniskillen’s South West Acute Hospital (SWAH).

The ‘adverse incidents’ occurred between July 1, 2022 and September 18, 2025 and were reported by NIAS as inter-trust incidents for investigation by the Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT).

An ‘adverse incident’ is an event that results in harm to a patient or service user, even if that harm is not the result of an error.

The figure was revealed as a result of an freedom of information (FOI) request submitted to NIAS by the Save Our Acute Services (SOAS) group, which is campaigning to restore emergency surgery at SWAH.

The decision to ‘temporarily suspend emergency surgery at SWAH was taken in December 2022 by WHSCT. At that time the Trust said the move was necessary as it “faced challenges recruiting general surgeons to cover the emergency general surgical rota”.

However, the suspension remains in place, with emergency general surgery continuing from the Altnagelvin Hospital site.

The FOI described the 35 ‘adverse incidents’ at Altnagelvin as: “Transfers / Transitions - this includes incidents regarding adherence with agreed protocols for the transfer of patients from the Southwest Acute Hospital ED [Emergency Department] to Altnagelvin Hospital”.

In total 236 ‘adverse incidents’ have been raised by NIAS staff in the time period covered, all of which have been sent to WHSCT for investigation as an inter-trust incident.

157, the majority, of the ‘adverse incidents’ were attributable to delays in the handover of patients from ambulances to WHSCT emergency departments.

One of the factors causing delay in the handover of patients is the ‘double ED admission’ policy.

This applies to patients who are admitted to SWAH ED for diagnosis and subsequently have to be transferred to Altnagelvin, in private ambulances or in family cars because the is no NIAS ambulance available to transfer them. These patients have to be begin the whole process again when they reach Altnagelvin.

However, NIAS personnel are no longer operating the ‘double ED admission’ policy, as of July 2025.

Patients for ED to ED transfer in an NIAS ambulance do not have to be booked on again at reception at Altnagelvin. Instead, NIAS personnel make the triage nurse or ambulance offload area nurse aware of the patient’s arrival at Altnagelvin ED, and the arrival will be adjusted on the EPIC / Encompass system at this location.

Speaking to The Derry News, SOAS spokesperson Donal O'Cofaigh said the NIAS statistics for ‘adverse incidents’ were “only those reported and are likely a significant underestimate of the real total”.

“The consultation documentation issued by the WHSCT in July 2025 claimed ‘there is no evidence of any individual patient harm for a single patient or any evidence that in the absence of emergency general surgery on site has affected any patient outcomes,’” said O'Cofaigh.

He added: “Thses figures released by the ambulance service flatly contradict the claims of Western Trust management that there is no evidence of patient harm.

“[In addition] they are likely a significant underestimate. How many more were discarded, or were not reported and how many more incidents occurred on private ambulances or while patients had to be driven up by relatives and on occasion have been told to drive themselves up [to Altnagelvin]. And, that is not to consider the double ED wait or the wait for a bed when patients get to Altnagelvin.

Seven living hostages freed by Hamas ‘now in Israeli custody’

What to know as Israel and Gaza await release of hostages, prisoners – and aid

“The absence of emergency surgery from SWAH compromises patient safety. Our community faces continued second class access to life-saving treatment in an emergency or trauma situation.

“The only acceptable option is for the Health Minister to intervene again and direct the Western Trust to include the goal of full-service restoration in its vision plan for SWAH.”

In August, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Ruairí McHugh, met the chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Cllr Barry McElduff, alongside representatives from SOAS and the chief executives of both councils. The discussion centred on the impact the suspension of emergency general surgery in SWAH would place on Altnagelvin.

SOAS is also scheduled to make a presentation on the issue to the Health and Community committee of Derry City and Strabane District Council on Thursday, October 16, at 4.00pm.