NEW TWIST IN BURNS DOCTOR'S ON-OFF MOVE
New twist in burns doctor's on-off move
AN OMAGH bomb victim has expressed renewed dismay this week as a burns surgeon's on-off move to a new post across the water has taken another twist.
But Donna Marie McGillion (nee Keyes), of Killyclogher, who received severe facial burns in the August 15, 1998, bomb atrocity says it is essential that the burns unit in the Royal Victoria Hospital remains and pledged to fight the issue to the end.
It has now been revealed that Dr. Khalid Khan, a leading plastic surgeon who treated many of the victims of the Omagh bomb, may now be leaving the province after all.
It has been reported that Dr. Khan delivered a letter of resignation to the Royal in the last couple of weeks, despite earlier indications that he would be remaining, particularly after hearing pleas from bomb victims and political representatives on their behalf.
Dr. Khan was expected to move into a new split post in breast reconstruction at Belfast City Hospital and the burns unit at the Royal.
But a spokesman for the City said earlier this week: "It is our understanding that he will not be taking up the joint post, but we have not heard formally from him as yet."
One City source said it was likely he would now be taking up a post in England.
Initially, towards the end of last year Dr. Khan first announced he was quitting over a lack of funding for the burns unit.
But after a talk with Health Minister, Bairbre de Brun, decided to stay.
Health sources said the revelation that he might be leaving was "surprising".
The SDLP's Dr. Joe Hendron said he was "very disturbed" at the news.
Mrs. McGillion said she still did not believe Dr. Khan wanted to leave Northern Ireland, but was not in a position to stay.
"I believe that he has not received any of the equipment that he needs and he remains a locum. He has no permanent job role and they have not given him the support services that he needs."
She said that not to have a burns specialist like Dr. Khan in the province prompted the question how long she was going to have to wait to get the treatment that she continued to need.
She added that her husband, Garry, who was also injured in the bomb, was due to go into hospital in the next couple of weeks to receive some surgery.
"Now where does this leave him?" she asked."Does it mean that he is not going to receive his treatment for a few months. It obviously means we are going to be put on a longer waiting list."
She added: "I am going to fight this situation to the end because we need the burns treatment unit in the Royal."
AN OMAGH bomb victim has expressed renewed dismay this week as a burns surgeon's on-off move to a new post across the water has taken another twist.
But Donna Marie McGillion (nee Keyes), of Killyclogher, who received severe facial burns in the August 15, 1998, bomb atrocity says it is essential that the burns unit in the Royal Victoria Hospital remains and pledged to fight the issue to the end.
It has now been revealed that Dr. Khalid Khan, a leading plastic surgeon who treated many of the victims of the Omagh bomb, may now be leaving the province after all.
It has been reported that Dr. Khan delivered a letter of resignation to the Royal in the last couple of weeks, despite earlier indications that he would be remaining, particularly after hearing pleas from bomb victims and political representatives on their behalf.
Dr. Khan was expected to move into a new split post in breast reconstruction at Belfast City Hospital and the burns unit at the Royal.
But a spokesman for the City said earlier this week: "It is our understanding that he will not be taking up the joint post, but we have not heard formally from him as yet."
One City source said it was likely he would now be taking up a post in England.
Initially, towards the end of last year Dr. Khan first announced he was quitting over a lack of funding for the burns unit.
But after a talk with Health Minister, Bairbre de Brun, decided to stay.
Health sources said the revelation that he might be leaving was "surprising".
The SDLP's Dr. Joe Hendron said he was "very disturbed" at the news.
Mrs. McGillion said she still did not believe Dr. Khan wanted to leave Northern Ireland, but was not in a position to stay.
"I believe that he has not received any of the equipment that he needs and he remains a locum. He has no permanent job role and they have not given him the support services that he needs."
She said that not to have a burns specialist like Dr. Khan in the province prompted the question how long she was going to have to wait to get the treatment that she continued to need.
She added that her husband, Garry, who was also injured in the bomb, was due to go into hospital in the next couple of weeks to receive some surgery.
"Now where does this leave him?" she asked."Does it mean that he is not going to receive his treatment for a few months. It obviously means we are going to be put on a longer waiting list."
She added: "I am going to fight this situation to the end because we need the burns treatment unit in the Royal."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0847
Published Date: 01-Feb-01
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.