PUBLIC KEPT INFORMED THROUGH SERIES OF PRESS CONFERENCES
Public kept informed through series of press conferences
THE full scale of the Tyrone County Hospital's medical operation, and that at other hospitals across the Province, was revealed to waiting press on Sunday morning.
Media from across the world had gathered at the 'County' throughout Saturday night, and were regularly briefed by senior staff from Sperrin Lakeland and Health and Social Care Trust, as the gruesome events unfolded.
Mr. Hugh Mills, chief executive of the Trust; Dr. Clive Russell, its medical director; Mrs. Glynis Henry, the Trust's clinical services manager, and Mr. Ronnie Barton, its clinical services director, along with the their press officer, Mrs. Janet Hall, helped keep the media informed of events in the explosion's aftermath.
As Saturday night became Sunday morning, the number of casualties had grown considerably, and Dr. Russell revealed details of the dreadful injuries people had sustained.
He said among those injured were numerous people requiring amputations, some with brain damage, and others suffering serious burns broken bones, and head injuries.
Up until 8pm, the hospital had dealt with 108 casualties, while numerous other patients had been seen at the Erne Hospital in Enniskillen, while others had travelled directly to South Tyrone Hospital, Dungannon.
Six of the more seriously injured had been airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, and Altnagelvin, near Londonderry.
By 10pm the number of casualties dealt with at the 'County' had increased, and more than 50 had been treated at the Erne.
Just after midnight, when the final press conference of the day was held, the number of casualties dealt with at Omagh and Enniskillen had risen to a massive 220 plus.
As the conference was going on, two young children, described as seriously ill, were being operated on.
At 11am on Sunday morning, a further update was given.
Mr. Barton said the County Hospital had dealt with 148 casualties, 111 females, 15 of them children, and of the 37 males, seven were children. He said 27 of those seen were still being treated in the wards.
Of the casualties dealt with at Omagh, 21 were transferred to Altnagelvin, and 17 to the Royal Victoria Hospital, while 24 were then in South Tyrone, some of them transferees, others who had made their own way there.
The director said the Erne had treated 69 casualties in total, and 30 of those were now in-patients.
At Sunday morning's press conference, Mr. Mills said the thoughts among hospital staffs were for the victims, and the relatives of those who were deceased and injured.
'Largest single incident'
He went on: "This has been the largest single incident the services at Tyrone County Hospital have responded to. The incident involved many civilian casualties, particularly women and children.
"It involved local people from the Omagh community. Our staff work in, and are from, this community, and were known to many of the victims and relatives."
Mr. Mills said the immediate staff in the hospital had been supported by many of those who were off-duty, and who had responded to requests for assistance.
"Our personal thanks must go to all health care workers, clergy and members of the public, who gave us assistance following the carnage of Saturday. We thank them for their skills, and the compassion and kindness shown to patients and their families," he said.
The Trust's chief executive said he also wanted to acknowledge the significant support received from other hospitals in Northern Ireland to whom they were able to transfer casualties, including the Erne, South Tyrone, Altnagelvin, Royal Victoria and Ulster Hospitals.
"We were also supported by all the emergency services, particularly the paramedics of the ambulance service, local GPs and many staff from other parts of the Province including Londonderry, Enniskillen, Belfast and Dungannon," said the chief officer.
He added: "We also received valuable support from voluntary organisations such as the Red Cross, St. John Ambulance and Order of Malta."
Mr. Mills said, too, that the Trust's social services staff, operating from the incident centre at Omagh Leisure Complex, had liaised closely with the police, comforted relatives and assisted in identification of the dead.
"In conveying our thanks to all those who assisted, our thoughts return again to the victims and the relatives of the deceased and injured," he said.
Local councillor, Mr. Reuben McKelvey, who attended the press conference, told Mr. Mills and his staff he applauded the work done at the hospital on Saturday.
"I was away in Scotland when the bomb occurred, and since my return this morning, I have heard nothing but praise and admiration for the way in which the hospital staff worked under what were certainly traumatic circumstances," he said.
THE full scale of the Tyrone County Hospital's medical operation, and that at other hospitals across the Province, was revealed to waiting press on Sunday morning.
Media from across the world had gathered at the 'County' throughout Saturday night, and were regularly briefed by senior staff from Sperrin Lakeland and Health and Social Care Trust, as the gruesome events unfolded.
Mr. Hugh Mills, chief executive of the Trust; Dr. Clive Russell, its medical director; Mrs. Glynis Henry, the Trust's clinical services manager, and Mr. Ronnie Barton, its clinical services director, along with the their press officer, Mrs. Janet Hall, helped keep the media informed of events in the explosion's aftermath.
As Saturday night became Sunday morning, the number of casualties had grown considerably, and Dr. Russell revealed details of the dreadful injuries people had sustained.
He said among those injured were numerous people requiring amputations, some with brain damage, and others suffering serious burns broken bones, and head injuries.
Up until 8pm, the hospital had dealt with 108 casualties, while numerous other patients had been seen at the Erne Hospital in Enniskillen, while others had travelled directly to South Tyrone Hospital, Dungannon.
Six of the more seriously injured had been airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, and Altnagelvin, near Londonderry.
By 10pm the number of casualties dealt with at the 'County' had increased, and more than 50 had been treated at the Erne.
Just after midnight, when the final press conference of the day was held, the number of casualties dealt with at Omagh and Enniskillen had risen to a massive 220 plus.
As the conference was going on, two young children, described as seriously ill, were being operated on.
At 11am on Sunday morning, a further update was given.
Mr. Barton said the County Hospital had dealt with 148 casualties, 111 females, 15 of them children, and of the 37 males, seven were children. He said 27 of those seen were still being treated in the wards.
Of the casualties dealt with at Omagh, 21 were transferred to Altnagelvin, and 17 to the Royal Victoria Hospital, while 24 were then in South Tyrone, some of them transferees, others who had made their own way there.
The director said the Erne had treated 69 casualties in total, and 30 of those were now in-patients.
At Sunday morning's press conference, Mr. Mills said the thoughts among hospital staffs were for the victims, and the relatives of those who were deceased and injured.
'Largest single incident'
He went on: "This has been the largest single incident the services at Tyrone County Hospital have responded to. The incident involved many civilian casualties, particularly women and children.
"It involved local people from the Omagh community. Our staff work in, and are from, this community, and were known to many of the victims and relatives."
Mr. Mills said the immediate staff in the hospital had been supported by many of those who were off-duty, and who had responded to requests for assistance.
"Our personal thanks must go to all health care workers, clergy and members of the public, who gave us assistance following the carnage of Saturday. We thank them for their skills, and the compassion and kindness shown to patients and their families," he said.
The Trust's chief executive said he also wanted to acknowledge the significant support received from other hospitals in Northern Ireland to whom they were able to transfer casualties, including the Erne, South Tyrone, Altnagelvin, Royal Victoria and Ulster Hospitals.
"We were also supported by all the emergency services, particularly the paramedics of the ambulance service, local GPs and many staff from other parts of the Province including Londonderry, Enniskillen, Belfast and Dungannon," said the chief officer.
He added: "We also received valuable support from voluntary organisations such as the Red Cross, St. John Ambulance and Order of Malta."
Mr. Mills said, too, that the Trust's social services staff, operating from the incident centre at Omagh Leisure Complex, had liaised closely with the police, comforted relatives and assisted in identification of the dead.
"In conveying our thanks to all those who assisted, our thoughts return again to the victims and the relatives of the deceased and injured," he said.
Local councillor, Mr. Reuben McKelvey, who attended the press conference, told Mr. Mills and his staff he applauded the work done at the hospital on Saturday.
"I was away in Scotland when the bomb occurred, and since my return this morning, I have heard nothing but praise and admiration for the way in which the hospital staff worked under what were certainly traumatic circumstances," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0052
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.