HOSPITAL FATE STILL HANGING IN BALANCE
Hospital fate still hanging in balance
By Seamus McKinney
NO decision will be taken on the future of acute services at Omagh's Tyrone and County hospital without in depth local consultation, a western health and social services' review group has stated.
Headed by one of the most senior National Health Service figures in Northern Ireland or Britain, Bob Nicholls, the review group was established to examine all hospital services in the western board's area
There had been concerns that acute hospital services would be centralised and that the Tyrone and County could lost out.
But in the aftermath of last month's Omagh bombing, the review group has stressed that no decisions have been taken.
Following the Omagh tragedy, it was decided to suspend its work as a mark of respect to the dead and injured and to permit members to concentrate on clinical matters.
At the group's first meeting yesterday, members confirmed their commitment to an open process and heard Mr Nicholls stress that no decisions would be taken without full public involvement.
Following the meeting, Mr Nicholls reiterated his commitment to quality and not cost.
"This is categorically not about cutting costs or reducing access to care. It is about providing better care and it is about making sure that services can be sustained into the future," he said.
Mr Nicholls said members of the review group believed that as much acute hospital work as possible should be undertaken at local facilities.
At present, the group was intent on providing information on the services available and the issues to be addressed, he said.
"Later in the year we will be in a position to discuss emerging models and the public will also be very much involved during the formal consultation phase, which I anticipate will now be taking place around the spring of 1999.
"Only after that will recommendations be formulated for the consideration of the board, before the board in turn submits its proposals to the minister," he said.
Expressing a desire to hear from people from throughout the board's area. Mr Nicholls said members of the review group were particularly sensitive to the impact of the Omagh bombing on local people.
For this reason, the group intended resuming its programme of public meetings throughout the board area next month.
Dr Clive Russell, medical director with the Sperrin Lakeland Health and Social Services Trust, said the Omagh bombing showed how important it was for doctors and other health professionals to work in a "network of care."
"I believe the review must proceed particularly in the light of the lessons we have learned from the Omagh bomb tragedy - the most important of which was the interdependency of hospitals within the western board.
"Our hospitals cannot stay the same and we have to adjust in order to ensure that future needs of people across the board area can be met. This does not mean closures but requires change to keep pace with patient expectations and advances in technology." he said.
By Seamus McKinney
NO decision will be taken on the future of acute services at Omagh's Tyrone and County hospital without in depth local consultation, a western health and social services' review group has stated.
Headed by one of the most senior National Health Service figures in Northern Ireland or Britain, Bob Nicholls, the review group was established to examine all hospital services in the western board's area
There had been concerns that acute hospital services would be centralised and that the Tyrone and County could lost out.
But in the aftermath of last month's Omagh bombing, the review group has stressed that no decisions have been taken.
Following the Omagh tragedy, it was decided to suspend its work as a mark of respect to the dead and injured and to permit members to concentrate on clinical matters.
At the group's first meeting yesterday, members confirmed their commitment to an open process and heard Mr Nicholls stress that no decisions would be taken without full public involvement.
Following the meeting, Mr Nicholls reiterated his commitment to quality and not cost.
"This is categorically not about cutting costs or reducing access to care. It is about providing better care and it is about making sure that services can be sustained into the future," he said.
Mr Nicholls said members of the review group believed that as much acute hospital work as possible should be undertaken at local facilities.
At present, the group was intent on providing information on the services available and the issues to be addressed, he said.
"Later in the year we will be in a position to discuss emerging models and the public will also be very much involved during the formal consultation phase, which I anticipate will now be taking place around the spring of 1999.
"Only after that will recommendations be formulated for the consideration of the board, before the board in turn submits its proposals to the minister," he said.
Expressing a desire to hear from people from throughout the board's area. Mr Nicholls said members of the review group were particularly sensitive to the impact of the Omagh bombing on local people.
For this reason, the group intended resuming its programme of public meetings throughout the board area next month.
Dr Clive Russell, medical director with the Sperrin Lakeland Health and Social Services Trust, said the Omagh bombing showed how important it was for doctors and other health professionals to work in a "network of care."
"I believe the review must proceed particularly in the light of the lessons we have learned from the Omagh bomb tragedy - the most important of which was the interdependency of hospitals within the western board.
"Our hospitals cannot stay the same and we have to adjust in order to ensure that future needs of people across the board area can be met. This does not mean closures but requires change to keep pace with patient expectations and advances in technology." he said.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0403
Published Date: 24-Sep-98
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