Western Trust highlights RQIA findings of progress in Emergency General Surgery pathways

The RQIA report titled “Emergency General Surgery in the Western Trust Following the Temporary Suspension of Services at South West Acute Hospital: Follow up inspection to Emergency General Surgery Pathways Inspection November 2025 – February 2026. 29 July 2026 – 4 August 2026” was published on Wednesday, September 15.

According to RQIA, the report covers a follow up inspection conducted between July 29 July and August 4, 2026 in both the South West Acute and Altnagelvin Hospitals.

“It assessed the Western Trust’s implementation of the Quality Improvement Plan set out in the RQIA’s Inspection Report publish on 10 June 2026”

A Trust spokesperson said: “RQIA found that governance arrangements have been strengthened, pathways have developed and staff reported improvements in communication, operational processes and organisational oversight.

“The report highlights significant improvement in patient transfer arrangements. RQIA has confirmed the Trust’s position that 97% of EGS transfers from South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) to Altnagelvin Hospital resulted in patients going directly to an inpatient bed, with ED-to-ED transfers largely eliminated and none reported since the end of January 2026,” they added.

Western Trust Chief Executive, Karen Hargan, said: “We welcome RQIA’s recognition of the significant progress made across all four Areas for Improvement. Patient safety remains our absolute priority and this report provides further independent assurance on the improvements made to our Emergency General Surgery pathways.

“RQIA has highlighted the positive outcome that 97% of patients requiring transfer from SWAH to Altnagelvin are admitted directly to an inpatient bed, with no ED-to-ED transfers reported since the end of January 2026. This is important evidence of the progress made in improving the patient pathway.

“These findings are consistent with the independent CHKS review, which found significant improvements in patient outcomes following the service changes, including a 24% reduction in mortality, a 28.5% reduction in complications and a 22.5% reduction in readmissions. CHKS analysis stated that the data demonstrated a clear and statistically significant reduction in mortality for emergency general surgery patients.

“We recognise there is further work to do to fully sustain these improvements. We will continue to work constructively with RQIA, our staff, NIAS and other health service partners to complete the remaining actions and further improve the experience and outcomes of our patients.”

The Trust spokesperson said it has “also continued to invest in the Emergency Surgical Ambulatory Assessment Unit (ESAAU) at SWAH, enabling more patients with emergency general surgical conditions to be assessed and treated locally and reducing the need for transfer to Altnagelvin.

“On average, 5.8 patients per day remain at SWAH, where they are assessed, treated and discharged through the ambulatory pathway.

“Where a patient is assessed through ESAAU as requiring non-emergency surgery, arrangements are made for their elective surgery to take place at SWAH or Omagh Hospital, within the appropriate clinical timeframe.

“On average, 2.5 patients per day require transfer to Altnagelvin for inpatient surgical care.

“To support patient transfers and help reduce pressure on the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS), the Trust extended its independent ambulance provision from 30 March 2026. This provides non-paramedic ambulance cover, where clinically appropriate, from 6.00am until 2.30am each day, while NIAS continues to provide ambulance transport where this is clinically required.”

The Trust has setup an EGS online hub on the Western Trust website, where all information, reports and data will be provided to the public: Emergency General Surgery | Western Health & Social Care Trust