PRAISE FOR 'STRENUOUS AND HEROIC EFFORTS' OF AMBULANCE STAFF IN BOMB AFTERMATH
Praise for 'strenuous and heroic efforts' of ambulance staff in bomb aftermath
GOVERNMENT minister, Mr John McFall, visited Omagh ambulance station on Monday, to commend staff from all over Northern Ireland who helped at the scene of the Omagh bombing.
The Minister for Health and Social Services was introduced to ambulance personnel by Mr Ivor Oswald, chairman of the service, and Mr Paul McCormick , chief executive.
"I have made a special visit to talk to the crews, and congratulate them on all their work." said Mr McFall.
"They were first on the scene, and have experienced great trauma, but they did their job and disappeared from the public eye. There should be recognition of the perils they faced, at a minutes notice, during this tragic event".
Mr McFall said he had read reports of the work of individuals in the ambulance crews, and was convinced they had acted beyond the call of duty.
"For ambulance staff and the other emergency services there can have been few more harrowing or horrific sights that the scene which met them in the immediate aftermath of the atrocity in Omagh," he said.
I cannot praise too highly the skill, commitment and sheer professionalism of the ambulance staff who had to cope with the consequences of the explosion.
"Through their strenuous and heroic efforts they brought comfort and relief to those injured and dying, and ensured that they got the best possible treatment, as quickly as was humanly possible," he said.
Mr Oswald revealed that the Ambulance Service had received many well-deserved tributes from within and outside Northern Ireland, and from Ambulance Services across Britain.
One of the most moving came from the division of the Scottish Ambulance Service, who dealt with the Dunblane School massacre.
'Expertise'
"Sadly the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service has had to build up expertise in caring for the victims of bombing outrages, but long experience would not prepare even the most seasoned ambulance person for the harrowing aftermath of the explosion in Omagh," said Mr Oswald.
"Of all the tributes, the most touching came from the families most directly affected, who know that ambulance staff did all they could to bring relief to their loved ones."
Local councillor, Mr Paddy McGowan was also on hand to praise the actions of the Ambulance Service.
"The Ambulance Service staff have excelled in a situation they never expected to be in, and I'm here to give them the moral support which they well deserve," said Mr McGowan.
"As a non-executive director of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Trust, I am proud and pleased to be associated with our service, which is second to none".
Mr McGowan welcomed the minister's visit, saying it showed the extent of his concern for the people of Omagh.
"It is a lovely gesture, and the ambulance staff do appreciate it very much," he said.
To coincide with the Ministerial visit, the Ambulance Service released some details of its operational response in the immediate aftermath of the explosion.
The first two duty ambulances from Omagh station reached the scene in less than four minutes after the explosion, with the control centre in Londonderry enlisting additional support from stations at Altnagelvin, Strabane, Enniskillen, Dungannon, Magherafelt, Cookstown, Armagh and Newry.
In all 17 Ambulances and two helicopters were mobilized, and used to convey patients for immediate specialist treatment at Altnagelvin in Londonderry and the Royal, City and Ulster hospitals in Belfast.
Ambulances, buses and cars were used to transfer over 200 of the injured from the site of the bomb explosion to the Tyrone County Hospital, and the last of the injured had been transported to hospital by 3.35 pm.
And at Tyrone County hospital, ambulance staff helped assess the patients to give priority to the most seriously injured, and they gave comfort to patients waiting for medical and surgical treatment.
GOVERNMENT minister, Mr John McFall, visited Omagh ambulance station on Monday, to commend staff from all over Northern Ireland who helped at the scene of the Omagh bombing.
The Minister for Health and Social Services was introduced to ambulance personnel by Mr Ivor Oswald, chairman of the service, and Mr Paul McCormick , chief executive.
"I have made a special visit to talk to the crews, and congratulate them on all their work." said Mr McFall.
"They were first on the scene, and have experienced great trauma, but they did their job and disappeared from the public eye. There should be recognition of the perils they faced, at a minutes notice, during this tragic event".
Mr McFall said he had read reports of the work of individuals in the ambulance crews, and was convinced they had acted beyond the call of duty.
"For ambulance staff and the other emergency services there can have been few more harrowing or horrific sights that the scene which met them in the immediate aftermath of the atrocity in Omagh," he said.
I cannot praise too highly the skill, commitment and sheer professionalism of the ambulance staff who had to cope with the consequences of the explosion.
"Through their strenuous and heroic efforts they brought comfort and relief to those injured and dying, and ensured that they got the best possible treatment, as quickly as was humanly possible," he said.
Mr Oswald revealed that the Ambulance Service had received many well-deserved tributes from within and outside Northern Ireland, and from Ambulance Services across Britain.
One of the most moving came from the division of the Scottish Ambulance Service, who dealt with the Dunblane School massacre.
'Expertise'
"Sadly the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service has had to build up expertise in caring for the victims of bombing outrages, but long experience would not prepare even the most seasoned ambulance person for the harrowing aftermath of the explosion in Omagh," said Mr Oswald.
"Of all the tributes, the most touching came from the families most directly affected, who know that ambulance staff did all they could to bring relief to their loved ones."
Local councillor, Mr Paddy McGowan was also on hand to praise the actions of the Ambulance Service.
"The Ambulance Service staff have excelled in a situation they never expected to be in, and I'm here to give them the moral support which they well deserve," said Mr McGowan.
"As a non-executive director of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Trust, I am proud and pleased to be associated with our service, which is second to none".
Mr McGowan welcomed the minister's visit, saying it showed the extent of his concern for the people of Omagh.
"It is a lovely gesture, and the ambulance staff do appreciate it very much," he said.
To coincide with the Ministerial visit, the Ambulance Service released some details of its operational response in the immediate aftermath of the explosion.
The first two duty ambulances from Omagh station reached the scene in less than four minutes after the explosion, with the control centre in Londonderry enlisting additional support from stations at Altnagelvin, Strabane, Enniskillen, Dungannon, Magherafelt, Cookstown, Armagh and Newry.
In all 17 Ambulances and two helicopters were mobilized, and used to convey patients for immediate specialist treatment at Altnagelvin in Londonderry and the Royal, City and Ulster hospitals in Belfast.
Ambulances, buses and cars were used to transfer over 200 of the injured from the site of the bomb explosion to the Tyrone County Hospital, and the last of the injured had been transported to hospital by 3.35 pm.
And at Tyrone County hospital, ambulance staff helped assess the patients to give priority to the most seriously injured, and they gave comfort to patients waiting for medical and surgical treatment.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1180
Published Date: 10-Sep-98
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