TC/1159

ACT RESOLUTELY TO SAVE HOSPITAL SERVICES - APPEAL

Act resolutely to save hospital services - appeal

Sir,
A few years ago you published a booklet entitled "The Story of Tyrone County Hospital" which I wrote after my retirement from the staff of the hospital. This covered the period of 1763 to 1988.
The recent Omagh bomb outrage has highlighted the vital importance of our hospital which many believe to be threatened with closure or further downgrading.
We now realise that we did not do nearly enough to prevent the recent loss of our maternity service and that further services will inevitably be lost if we do not act resolutely now.
We saved the hospital from closure in the 1980s by forming a local defence committee which refuted, point by point, the recommendations set out in the Working Party Report produced by the Western Area Board.
We strongly suspect that these recommendations, lying dormant for years, are still dominant in the strategy of the Area Board.
If the people of Omagh take up this challenge, it should be possible to add a further chapter in the story of Tyrone County Hospital detailing how the Omagh bomb outrage changed the fortunes of the town and of its essential hospital services.
There is not a moment to be lost!
Yours
TOM WILMOT
(former ENT Consultant)
Tyrone County Hospital

Further Information

Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION

Ref: TC/1159

Published Date: 10-Sep-98

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