TRUST CONSULTS ON THE FUTURE OF OMAGH TRAUMA TEAM
Trust consults on the future of Omagh trauma team
THE Sperrin Lakeland Trust has commenced a round of consultations on proposals to complete the work of the Community Trauma and Recovery Team, set up over two-and-a-half-years ago in the wake of the Omagh bombing.
The timing of the proposal follows a steady reduction in the numbers of people seeking the support of the team.
Chief executive of the Trust, Mr. Hugh Mills, commenting on the consultations said: "The Trust has written to various organisations and interests which the Trust believes may have a view on the work of the Trauma Team and we are keen to receive any comments which could assist the Trust in planning the transition of services provided by the team."
"In setting up the team, the Trust took the view from the outset that a time would come when the team would accomplish the task for which it was established," he said.
Mr. Mills continued: "It was envisaged that the continuing work to support those affected by the Omagh bombing could then be taken forward by the Trust's mainstream services at a point when the demands from the public reached a level which could be managed by those services."
"Since shortly after the inquests last September, the numbers of people seeking help have continued to drop and we believe the point has now been reached where our mainstream services can provide support to those who will seek help in the future," he said.
The chief executive went on to say: "The team had been established initially to lead the Trust's response to the bombing and this was considered necessary, due to the amount of demand which was expected to arise. 'The Trust had also established the team as a symbolic act, indicating its desire to support the community and in a tangible way, to acknowledge the implications of the tragedy for the community."
"It had originally been envisaged that the team should be in place up until April 2000. However, given the demands from the community and the plans to have the inquests in September 2000, it was decided the team should remain in place until at least December 2000," he said.
Speaking about the proposals for the team, Mr. Mills said: "On the basis of the pattern of demand on the team over the past six months, we are proposing that the team should complete its operation by the end of April. At that point, those currently seeing team staff for therapy would continue to do so. until the therapy is completed."
"Thereafter, people seeking services for the first time, would access them through the Trust's mainstream provision. We expect that there would be a transitional period for a handover from the team to our mainstream services," he said.
Reflecting on the knowledge and skills developed by staff in the wake of the bombing, Mr. Mills said: "Over the course of the last two-and-a-half years, the staff who have worked with those affected by the Omagh bombing have developed skills and expertise. In the professional application of their training, staff have learnt those techniques which have been of most benefit in their work with victims of trauma."
"It would not be the wish of the Trust that these skills in trauma services would be dissipated. The Trust would consider it essential that this expertise continues to be put to good use for the Omagh community and to others as part of an outreach and sharing with other communities." he said.
Mr. Mills confirmed that the Trust has been working with the Omagh Memorial Committee to help develop proposals which would lead to the emergence of a more broadly based trauma service, which would provide services to the wider community.
Mr. Mills said: "Such a development would enable the learning and skills developed in response to the Omagh bombing to be conserved and built upon. A feasibility report is now awaited for a project which will provide a resource for trauma service development, as well as contributing to conflict information, training and education, research and consultancy."
Support
"The Trust will support the development of this project based in Omagh, which would provide services for those affected by violence from the West of the province and beyond." Mr. Mills continued.
Reflecting upon the work undertaken by the Trust in the wake of the bombing, Mr. Mills said: "The Trust board and its staff have shared in the tragedy of the Omagh bombing, and have felt honoured to have been able to respond to the tragedy and to provide services to local people, and those further afield."
"The work of the trauma team has been of particular importance and, during the past two and a half years, over 600 people of all ages have used its services. We feel that the team's work has been largely accomplished and that the consideration of completion, signals something positive about the capacity of the local community to cope with the tragedy of August 1998," said Mr. Mills.
"At the same time, we recognise that for many, the tragedy continues to represent an experience of great loss and distress, and it is our intention
that, through our mainstream services and the ongoing interest of the trust and its staff, local people will continue to receive services to help them address the personal and family consequences of the bombing," he concluded.
THE Sperrin Lakeland Trust has commenced a round of consultations on proposals to complete the work of the Community Trauma and Recovery Team, set up over two-and-a-half-years ago in the wake of the Omagh bombing.
The timing of the proposal follows a steady reduction in the numbers of people seeking the support of the team.
Chief executive of the Trust, Mr. Hugh Mills, commenting on the consultations said: "The Trust has written to various organisations and interests which the Trust believes may have a view on the work of the Trauma Team and we are keen to receive any comments which could assist the Trust in planning the transition of services provided by the team."
"In setting up the team, the Trust took the view from the outset that a time would come when the team would accomplish the task for which it was established," he said.
Mr. Mills continued: "It was envisaged that the continuing work to support those affected by the Omagh bombing could then be taken forward by the Trust's mainstream services at a point when the demands from the public reached a level which could be managed by those services."
"Since shortly after the inquests last September, the numbers of people seeking help have continued to drop and we believe the point has now been reached where our mainstream services can provide support to those who will seek help in the future," he said.
The chief executive went on to say: "The team had been established initially to lead the Trust's response to the bombing and this was considered necessary, due to the amount of demand which was expected to arise. 'The Trust had also established the team as a symbolic act, indicating its desire to support the community and in a tangible way, to acknowledge the implications of the tragedy for the community."
"It had originally been envisaged that the team should be in place up until April 2000. However, given the demands from the community and the plans to have the inquests in September 2000, it was decided the team should remain in place until at least December 2000," he said.
Speaking about the proposals for the team, Mr. Mills said: "On the basis of the pattern of demand on the team over the past six months, we are proposing that the team should complete its operation by the end of April. At that point, those currently seeing team staff for therapy would continue to do so. until the therapy is completed."
"Thereafter, people seeking services for the first time, would access them through the Trust's mainstream provision. We expect that there would be a transitional period for a handover from the team to our mainstream services," he said.
Reflecting on the knowledge and skills developed by staff in the wake of the bombing, Mr. Mills said: "Over the course of the last two-and-a-half years, the staff who have worked with those affected by the Omagh bombing have developed skills and expertise. In the professional application of their training, staff have learnt those techniques which have been of most benefit in their work with victims of trauma."
"It would not be the wish of the Trust that these skills in trauma services would be dissipated. The Trust would consider it essential that this expertise continues to be put to good use for the Omagh community and to others as part of an outreach and sharing with other communities." he said.
Mr. Mills confirmed that the Trust has been working with the Omagh Memorial Committee to help develop proposals which would lead to the emergence of a more broadly based trauma service, which would provide services to the wider community.
Mr. Mills said: "Such a development would enable the learning and skills developed in response to the Omagh bombing to be conserved and built upon. A feasibility report is now awaited for a project which will provide a resource for trauma service development, as well as contributing to conflict information, training and education, research and consultancy."
Support
"The Trust will support the development of this project based in Omagh, which would provide services for those affected by violence from the West of the province and beyond." Mr. Mills continued.
Reflecting upon the work undertaken by the Trust in the wake of the bombing, Mr. Mills said: "The Trust board and its staff have shared in the tragedy of the Omagh bombing, and have felt honoured to have been able to respond to the tragedy and to provide services to local people, and those further afield."
"The work of the trauma team has been of particular importance and, during the past two and a half years, over 600 people of all ages have used its services. We feel that the team's work has been largely accomplished and that the consideration of completion, signals something positive about the capacity of the local community to cope with the tragedy of August 1998," said Mr. Mills.
"At the same time, we recognise that for many, the tragedy continues to represent an experience of great loss and distress, and it is our intention
that, through our mainstream services and the ongoing interest of the trust and its staff, local people will continue to receive services to help them address the personal and family consequences of the bombing," he concluded.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0864
Published Date: 05-Apr-01
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