ABSOLUTE MAYHEM AT THE HOSPITAL
Absolute mayhem at the hospital
THE SURGEON
DR Simon Rankin was enjoying his parents' 70th birthday party in Portballintrae, when his emergency bleeper went off around 7pm last Saturday.
The Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at the Royal Victoria Hospital had heard no news of the horror unfolding in Omagh.
He said: "I was told to expect a patient from a bomb blast with eye injuries, and didn't realise how serious the situation was.
"I was on my way back to Belfast when I heard the radio news, and realised the scale of the tragedy.
"I rang the police to say I would not be adhering to the speed limits, and I rushed from Ballymoney to Belfast at 115 mph.
"When I arrived at casualty, there was absolute mayhem, and all sorts of injuries.
"I went immediately to theatre, and there was a teenage girl with profound injuries to both her eyes, and a huge amount of facial damage.
"We operated on her right eye for four or five hours.
"There were six theatres running, and teams of surgeons working flat out.
"I went back to casualty, and there was a young girl with terribly bad shrapnel wounds, which had completely wrecked her eye.
"We had to remove her eye to get the shrapnel out.
"There was a third lady, with multiple injuries, and one of her eyes had been badly perforated. The other was also damaged.
"She lost one of her eyes, and there is some damage to the other. She is still in intensive care.
"I went home at 6am and got two or three hours sleep, and went back to the hospital at 9.30am.
"We're there to operate, that's what we're trained for and it's not a problem.
"But it's dealing with the relatives that is so horrific.
"Eyes are not emotional to us, that is what we do, but it is a major trauma for the patient and the families.
"I have been struck this week by the humanity of the people of Omagh.
"They are a pack of big softies - very generous natured, and lovely people.
"The patients we have dealt with face a long road ahead."
THE SURGEON
DR Simon Rankin was enjoying his parents' 70th birthday party in Portballintrae, when his emergency bleeper went off around 7pm last Saturday.
The Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at the Royal Victoria Hospital had heard no news of the horror unfolding in Omagh.
He said: "I was told to expect a patient from a bomb blast with eye injuries, and didn't realise how serious the situation was.
"I was on my way back to Belfast when I heard the radio news, and realised the scale of the tragedy.
"I rang the police to say I would not be adhering to the speed limits, and I rushed from Ballymoney to Belfast at 115 mph.
"When I arrived at casualty, there was absolute mayhem, and all sorts of injuries.
"I went immediately to theatre, and there was a teenage girl with profound injuries to both her eyes, and a huge amount of facial damage.
"We operated on her right eye for four or five hours.
"There were six theatres running, and teams of surgeons working flat out.
"I went back to casualty, and there was a young girl with terribly bad shrapnel wounds, which had completely wrecked her eye.
"We had to remove her eye to get the shrapnel out.
"There was a third lady, with multiple injuries, and one of her eyes had been badly perforated. The other was also damaged.
"She lost one of her eyes, and there is some damage to the other. She is still in intensive care.
"I went home at 6am and got two or three hours sleep, and went back to the hospital at 9.30am.
"We're there to operate, that's what we're trained for and it's not a problem.
"But it's dealing with the relatives that is so horrific.
"Eyes are not emotional to us, that is what we do, but it is a major trauma for the patient and the families.
"I have been struck this week by the humanity of the people of Omagh.
"They are a pack of big softies - very generous natured, and lovely people.
"The patients we have dealt with face a long road ahead."
Further Information
Publisher: SUNDAY LIFE
Ref: SL/026
Published Date: 23-Aug-98
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