HEALTH STAFF WORKING TIRELESSLY AND HEROICALLY
Health staff working 'tirelessly and heroically'
THE thoughts and prayers of all who work in the health and social services in the Western area are with the people of Omagh, and with all those who have had members of their families killed or injured in Saturday's bombing, the Western Health and Social Services Board chairman, Mr. Robert Toland, said.
"Health and social care staff in Omagh, in Fermanagh, at Altnagelvin Hospital and from across Northern Ireland have been working tirelessly and heroically to provide emergency care and support in the immediate aftermath of an act of inhumanity which has brought pain and suffering to an entire community," he said.
"They have been joined in this work by colleagues from all the emergency services, by voluntary organisations and by members of the public who have shown the kind of courage and spirit which cannot be defeated by those who carry out such evil deeds," added Mr. Toland.
He said, though, it would take a considerable time for people to even begin to recover from the devastating tragedy and health and social care staff would continue to support the community in any way they could.
"The sense of disbelief we felt at Saturday's outrage was compounded on Sunday morning when an ambulance conveying two very seriously injured patients to specialist services in Belfast was involved in a road accident which resulted in a further death and serious injury. Our thoughts are with these families also at this time," he said.
Mr. Toland paid tribute to the medical, nursing, ambulance social work and other staff who were working with the victims and their families.
"Like everyone else, I hoped we had seen the last of this kind of attacks on innocent communities, but I am so proud of our staff and our GP colleagues who have been able to respond so magnificently in the most difficult of circumstances.
"Our staff are very much part of the community they serve, and many of those who work in the health and social services in Omagh have lost friends and relatives. Our thoughts and prayers are also with them, and I am very conscious that they will need our support into the future," he said.
THE thoughts and prayers of all who work in the health and social services in the Western area are with the people of Omagh, and with all those who have had members of their families killed or injured in Saturday's bombing, the Western Health and Social Services Board chairman, Mr. Robert Toland, said.
"Health and social care staff in Omagh, in Fermanagh, at Altnagelvin Hospital and from across Northern Ireland have been working tirelessly and heroically to provide emergency care and support in the immediate aftermath of an act of inhumanity which has brought pain and suffering to an entire community," he said.
"They have been joined in this work by colleagues from all the emergency services, by voluntary organisations and by members of the public who have shown the kind of courage and spirit which cannot be defeated by those who carry out such evil deeds," added Mr. Toland.
He said, though, it would take a considerable time for people to even begin to recover from the devastating tragedy and health and social care staff would continue to support the community in any way they could.
"The sense of disbelief we felt at Saturday's outrage was compounded on Sunday morning when an ambulance conveying two very seriously injured patients to specialist services in Belfast was involved in a road accident which resulted in a further death and serious injury. Our thoughts are with these families also at this time," he said.
Mr. Toland paid tribute to the medical, nursing, ambulance social work and other staff who were working with the victims and their families.
"Like everyone else, I hoped we had seen the last of this kind of attacks on innocent communities, but I am so proud of our staff and our GP colleagues who have been able to respond so magnificently in the most difficult of circumstances.
"Our staff are very much part of the community they serve, and many of those who work in the health and social services in Omagh have lost friends and relatives. Our thoughts and prayers are also with them, and I am very conscious that they will need our support into the future," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0102
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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