REVIEW OF ACUTE HOSPITAL SERVICES IS PUT ON HOLD
Review of acute hospital services is put on hold
WESTERN Health and Social Service Board officers have halted their review of acute services, it emerged on Thursday last.
The news was revealed by the Hospital Doctor, 'the leading weekly newspaper for doctors in all specialities'.
And, in a press statement issued later in the day, Mr. Tom Frawley, the Board general manager, said : "It is likely to be several weeks before all those involved in the review can consider recommencing the review of acute services.
"When that decision is taken, a priority will be to identity and apply the lessons learned from the awful tragedy that befell Omagh."
Hospital Doctor claimed NHS chiefs had been forced to halt the review, which had been well advanced, in the aftermath of the appalling Omagh town centre bombing.
The paper said the review of services centred on the hospital - Tyrone County Hospital - which was at the centre of the bomb outrage in the county town.
It said doctors locally feared the review, which it is thought was to announce models of innovative acute services for the Board area in the autumn, could have led to the transfer of acute surgical services to Altnagelvin.
But the Hospital Doctor statement said the Western Board had told its reporters the bombing would certainly have a bearing on the independent review's eventual deliberations.
Mr. Frawley, in his statement, added said the Board, as a result of the terrible tragedy in Omagh, had been reviewing its programme of work.
He went on: "Everyone involved in the review is very conscious of their responsibility to all the people living in the Western area.
"The terrible tragedy inflicted on the people of Omagh, and visitors to the town, is very much on our minds."
The general manager said that in such circumstances, the energies of health and social care staff had to be focused on supporting the victims and their families.
He concluded: "Our primary objective will be, as it has been since the review commenced, to ensure the people right across the Board's area continue to receive the best possible acute service that can be sustained over time."
West Tyrone Ulster Unionist Assemblyman, Mr. Derek Hussey, said the temporary stay of the review was to be welcomed.
And he made this appeal: "The Western Board should now be mindful that the bomb tragedy unequivocally identified the need for the retention of substantial hospital services in the Omagh area.
"When the panel reconvenes proper decisions must be taken in the light of human need, as opposed to those that are financially driven."
WESTERN Health and Social Service Board officers have halted their review of acute services, it emerged on Thursday last.
The news was revealed by the Hospital Doctor, 'the leading weekly newspaper for doctors in all specialities'.
And, in a press statement issued later in the day, Mr. Tom Frawley, the Board general manager, said : "It is likely to be several weeks before all those involved in the review can consider recommencing the review of acute services.
"When that decision is taken, a priority will be to identity and apply the lessons learned from the awful tragedy that befell Omagh."
Hospital Doctor claimed NHS chiefs had been forced to halt the review, which had been well advanced, in the aftermath of the appalling Omagh town centre bombing.
The paper said the review of services centred on the hospital - Tyrone County Hospital - which was at the centre of the bomb outrage in the county town.
It said doctors locally feared the review, which it is thought was to announce models of innovative acute services for the Board area in the autumn, could have led to the transfer of acute surgical services to Altnagelvin.
But the Hospital Doctor statement said the Western Board had told its reporters the bombing would certainly have a bearing on the independent review's eventual deliberations.
Mr. Frawley, in his statement, added said the Board, as a result of the terrible tragedy in Omagh, had been reviewing its programme of work.
He went on: "Everyone involved in the review is very conscious of their responsibility to all the people living in the Western area.
"The terrible tragedy inflicted on the people of Omagh, and visitors to the town, is very much on our minds."
The general manager said that in such circumstances, the energies of health and social care staff had to be focused on supporting the victims and their families.
He concluded: "Our primary objective will be, as it has been since the review commenced, to ensure the people right across the Board's area continue to receive the best possible acute service that can be sustained over time."
West Tyrone Ulster Unionist Assemblyman, Mr. Derek Hussey, said the temporary stay of the review was to be welcomed.
And he made this appeal: "The Western Board should now be mindful that the bomb tragedy unequivocally identified the need for the retention of substantial hospital services in the Omagh area.
"When the panel reconvenes proper decisions must be taken in the light of human need, as opposed to those that are financially driven."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0286
Published Date: 27-Aug-98
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