OMAGH LEAVES ULSTER DOCTORS UNABLE TO COPE
Omagh leaves Ulster doctors unable to cope
By JACKIE McKEOWN
INCREASED demands on plastic surgeons in the wake of the Omagh atrocity, have led to one health board sending its patients south of the border. The first of 28 Southern Health Board patients travelled to Dublin for treatment last week, under the innovative agreement which aims to slash waiting lists. The initiative was arranged by the Southern Health and Social Services Board, after it was told Ulster surgeons could not cope with any more work after the bombing. But a government cash injection to cut waiting lists enabled the Board to look further afield, a spokeswoman said. "We went to the Royal and the Ulster first, which are the only two hospitals which offer plastic surgery in Northern Ireland," she added. "But they have to deal with emergency work and we are talking about elective surgery.
Limited
"And because there aren't many surgeons, that means limited accessibility.
"However, because there is money about as part of a drive to cut waiting lists, we are able to go anywhere we can to get a good quality service."
Patients will initially be assessed at a clinic in Newry's Daisy Hill Hospital before travelling to Dublin's hi-tech Mater Private Hospital for surgery.
All of those heading south had been deemed to be medically in need of plastic surgery and were not being operated on for cosmetic reasons, the spokeswoman stressed. And she added that the cost of the arrangement was "competitive", and likely to be on a par with charges in the north.
A spokeswoman for the Royal confirmed that demand for plastic surgery as a result of the Omagh atrocity had increased.
And she added that has had a knock-on effect on waiting lists.
By JACKIE McKEOWN
INCREASED demands on plastic surgeons in the wake of the Omagh atrocity, have led to one health board sending its patients south of the border. The first of 28 Southern Health Board patients travelled to Dublin for treatment last week, under the innovative agreement which aims to slash waiting lists. The initiative was arranged by the Southern Health and Social Services Board, after it was told Ulster surgeons could not cope with any more work after the bombing. But a government cash injection to cut waiting lists enabled the Board to look further afield, a spokeswoman said. "We went to the Royal and the Ulster first, which are the only two hospitals which offer plastic surgery in Northern Ireland," she added. "But they have to deal with emergency work and we are talking about elective surgery.
Limited
"And because there aren't many surgeons, that means limited accessibility.
"However, because there is money about as part of a drive to cut waiting lists, we are able to go anywhere we can to get a good quality service."
Patients will initially be assessed at a clinic in Newry's Daisy Hill Hospital before travelling to Dublin's hi-tech Mater Private Hospital for surgery.
All of those heading south had been deemed to be medically in need of plastic surgery and were not being operated on for cosmetic reasons, the spokeswoman stressed. And she added that the cost of the arrangement was "competitive", and likely to be on a par with charges in the north.
A spokeswoman for the Royal confirmed that demand for plastic surgery as a result of the Omagh atrocity had increased.
And she added that has had a knock-on effect on waiting lists.
Further Information
Publisher: SUNDAY LIFE
Ref: SL/060
Published Date: 22-Nov-98
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.