PATIENTS WARNED TO EXPECT SOME DELAYS
Patients warned to expect some delays
By Rosie Uffindell
PATIENTS are being warned that elective surgery has been affected by the need to treat the victims of the Omagh bomb.
All outpatient appointments and elective surgery procedures timetabled for today and tomorrow at Tyrone County Hospital have been cancelled.
And today's orthopaedic and general surgery appointments have been cancelled at Derry's Altnagelvin Hospital.
Patients affected have been informed and a spokeswoman for Altnagelvin Hospital emphasised that anyone with elective surgery appointments this week would be contacted if they were to be postponed.
"We have cancelled the appointments because we anticipate we will still be dealing with the onward treatment of some of those with complex fractures," she said.
"Those patients affected have been contacted."
Mary Graham of the Royal Victoria Hospital, which has been treating some of the most seriously injured in the blast, said it was inevitable elective surgery would be affected. The hospital was due to take a formal decision last night.
Robert Sowney, accident and emergency charge nurse at Dungannon's South Tyrone Hospital, said it was possible more victims could be transferred to the hospital which could have a knock-on effect on elective surgery.
"We are waiting to see what impact that could have - it could possibly effect elective surgery," he said.
"We will try to lessen that effect as best as possible, but in the circumstances obviously the emergency surgery will take preference and I am sure the public will acknowledge and understand that.
"The public have been very good to date. We have received calls of support and people offering to give blood, and messages of support from staff in hospitals throughout the UK to say they are thinking about us. That means a lot.
"The support I witnessed yesterday and the numbers of people offering blood was in total contrast to the destruction and carnage that was caused in Omagh by some people.
"It was just tremendous."
But a spokeswoman for Erne Hospital in Enniskillen said elective surgery would carry on as normal this week.
"We have actually got a lot of help from staff and from other hospitals, and staff feel they are able to cope adequately with the extra work," she said.
"So they are very happy to continue as normal."
Helpline numbers:
Emergency line for relatives: 01232 673371
Cruse Bereavement Line 01232 434600
The Samaritans 01232 664422 ; People wishing to donate blood should contact Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service on FreeCall 0500 534 666 to find about donor sessions.
The WAVE Centre: provides practical support, advice and befriending to people bereaved in the Troubles. Contact 01232 779922 or 01861 511599.
By Rosie Uffindell
PATIENTS are being warned that elective surgery has been affected by the need to treat the victims of the Omagh bomb.
All outpatient appointments and elective surgery procedures timetabled for today and tomorrow at Tyrone County Hospital have been cancelled.
And today's orthopaedic and general surgery appointments have been cancelled at Derry's Altnagelvin Hospital.
Patients affected have been informed and a spokeswoman for Altnagelvin Hospital emphasised that anyone with elective surgery appointments this week would be contacted if they were to be postponed.
"We have cancelled the appointments because we anticipate we will still be dealing with the onward treatment of some of those with complex fractures," she said.
"Those patients affected have been contacted."
Mary Graham of the Royal Victoria Hospital, which has been treating some of the most seriously injured in the blast, said it was inevitable elective surgery would be affected. The hospital was due to take a formal decision last night.
Robert Sowney, accident and emergency charge nurse at Dungannon's South Tyrone Hospital, said it was possible more victims could be transferred to the hospital which could have a knock-on effect on elective surgery.
"We are waiting to see what impact that could have - it could possibly effect elective surgery," he said.
"We will try to lessen that effect as best as possible, but in the circumstances obviously the emergency surgery will take preference and I am sure the public will acknowledge and understand that.
"The public have been very good to date. We have received calls of support and people offering to give blood, and messages of support from staff in hospitals throughout the UK to say they are thinking about us. That means a lot.
"The support I witnessed yesterday and the numbers of people offering blood was in total contrast to the destruction and carnage that was caused in Omagh by some people.
"It was just tremendous."
But a spokeswoman for Erne Hospital in Enniskillen said elective surgery would carry on as normal this week.
"We have actually got a lot of help from staff and from other hospitals, and staff feel they are able to cope adequately with the extra work," she said.
"So they are very happy to continue as normal."
Helpline numbers:
Emergency line for relatives: 01232 673371
Cruse Bereavement Line 01232 434600
The Samaritans 01232 664422 ; People wishing to donate blood should contact Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service on FreeCall 0500 534 666 to find about donor sessions.
The WAVE Centre: provides practical support, advice and befriending to people bereaved in the Troubles. Contact 01232 779922 or 01861 511599.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0014
Published Date: 17-Aug-98
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