CALL ON HOSPITAL STAFF MUCH APPRECIATED
Call on hospital staff is 'much appreciated'
By Nigel Gould
HILLARY Clinton was visibly moved when she paid a surprise visit to some of the Omagh bomb blast victims yesterday.
The First Lady met a number of the injured when she made a private visit to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
Mrs Clinton was joined by Prime Minister Tony Blair's wife, Cherie.
Both visited the hospital's busy accident and emergency department and the burns unit.
Mrs Clinton chatted to both blast victims and their families during a 45-minute tour.
A number of the patients had been badly injured in the blast.
She met some who had had broken bones from the explosion.
And she got an insight into the experiences of front line staff in the aftermath of the bomb.
These included doctors, nurses, surgeons and consultants.
A Royal spokeswoman said: "She spoke to patients, their relatives and a number of our staff who had helped treat the more seriously injured.
"Staff felt it was recognition of the work they, like many other medical staff across the province, had done.
"They really appreciated the visit.
"She spent a lot of time with some of the patients and was finding out how they were progressing.
"She also seemed genuinely interested in our health service and spoke to both our chief executive and chairman about the health service's overall structure."
The visit was not part of Mrs Clinton's official itinerary - and no media were invited.
The First Lady travelled to the Royal after spending more than an hour with Protestant and Catholic schoolchildren who met up with her during a visit arranged by PlayBoard.
By Nigel Gould
HILLARY Clinton was visibly moved when she paid a surprise visit to some of the Omagh bomb blast victims yesterday.
The First Lady met a number of the injured when she made a private visit to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
Mrs Clinton was joined by Prime Minister Tony Blair's wife, Cherie.
Both visited the hospital's busy accident and emergency department and the burns unit.
Mrs Clinton chatted to both blast victims and their families during a 45-minute tour.
A number of the patients had been badly injured in the blast.
She met some who had had broken bones from the explosion.
And she got an insight into the experiences of front line staff in the aftermath of the bomb.
These included doctors, nurses, surgeons and consultants.
A Royal spokeswoman said: "She spoke to patients, their relatives and a number of our staff who had helped treat the more seriously injured.
"Staff felt it was recognition of the work they, like many other medical staff across the province, had done.
"They really appreciated the visit.
"She spent a lot of time with some of the patients and was finding out how they were progressing.
"She also seemed genuinely interested in our health service and spoke to both our chief executive and chairman about the health service's overall structure."
The visit was not part of Mrs Clinton's official itinerary - and no media were invited.
The First Lady travelled to the Royal after spending more than an hour with Protestant and Catholic schoolchildren who met up with her during a visit arranged by PlayBoard.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0382
Published Date: 04-Sep-98
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