PROTESTERS CALL FOR RETENTION OF COUNTY'S ACUTE SERVICES
Protesters call for retention of County's acute services
AROUND 15 demonstrators carrying banners and placards calling for the retention of acute services at the Tyrone County Hospital protested out side the district council offices on Monday during the launch of the council's regeneration initiative for the town.
Local members of the health union, unison joined two of the relatives of those killed in the Omagh bombing, Mr. Laurence Rush and Mr. Michael Gallagher, to call on the Secretary of state, Dr. Mo Mowlam, to halt any attempts to downgrade the hospital.
In the immediate aftermath of the bomb, the Western Health and Social Services suspended its review of acute hospital services. However at the end of September, the Board resumed its consultation process.
Mr. Rush, whose wife, Libbi, died in the August 15 atrocity has launched a campaign to have services retained and upgraded at the County and fears that it could lose its acute status.
He has erected a number of banners in the town and on approach roads to it, calling for the County to be saved.
And this week, he had thousands of postcards printed, addressed to the Prime Minister Tony Blair and Dr. Mowlam, for people to sign, again calling for services to be retained.
He explained that batches of these postcards were being sent to other countries, including the United States and Spain, where they would be distributed to the general public by various organisations.
Posters have also been printed, and he hopes to display these in shops and businesses around the town.
Speaking outside the council offices, he said. "I want the Tyrone County to be a lasting memorial to my wife and the other victims. We have been putting up banners, and intend having them in place from the Ballygawley roundabout right through to Omagh, and along roads on the other side of the town."
He said this was just the start of the campaign, and he was now seeking sponsorship to continue it.
Mr Rush went to Blackpool at the weekend, where the Labour Party Conference was being held, and protested outside the hotel where the delegates were staying.
He also intends to travel to Brighton this week, where the Conservative Party is holding its conference, in a bid to win support for his campaign.
Mr. Gallagher, who lost his son, Aidan, in the bombing, said he was backing Mr. Rush in his campaign.
'Unthinkable'
He said, "It is totally unthinkable that people should have to do something like this, after what happened here in Omagh."
He went on: "I was at the back of the County Hospital within 20 minutes of the bomb going off. If there had been no hospital to go to, I don't know what would have happened."
Mr. Gallagher added that it was unbelievable that the County should be run down, after so many lives were saved there.
Olive Wylie, secretary of the local Unison branch, said members were keen to air their views that acute services must be retained at the Tyrone County.
"This is a very emotive subject for everyone. It is important that we get across to people what it means if our acute services are taken away," she said.
She said she was aware that services had to move forward, and things had to change, but there was a fear that important specialist services would be removed from the County.
"The most specialist service is the anaesthetic service. And if we lose any of out acute services, we may not retain 24-hour anaesthetic cover.
This service is often underestimated by the public, but it is the first step in saving a life," she said.
Mr John McConnell, from the NIO, who is assisting in the co-ordination of the Government's response to the Omagh bombing, spoke to both Mr. Rush and Mr. Gallagher, before attending a short meeting with councillors, prior to the launch of 'Omagh Renewal and Beyond".
While the demonstration was peaceful, there were angry scenes when the protesters were refused entry to the council offices.
Banners and placards were held up against the glass doors, and some hammered on the doors, demanding entry.
West Tyrone MP, Mr. William Thompson, had difficulty getting into the building, and addressed the protesters on the steps.
Later, four representatives, including Mr. Rush and Mr. Gallagher, were invited up to the council chamber to sit in on the meeting between councillors and the Secretary of State.
They also attended the launch of the strategy for rebuilding the town, and afterwards spoke to Dr. Mowlam.
Questioned about the future of the Tyrone County, the Secretary of State said she would listen to the people of Omagh were saying.
"I will represent your case fairly, and put it to the Health Board, which is responsible for making the decision on this matter," she said.
She added that she would be happy to meet a delegation from Unison to discuss the issue further.
AROUND 15 demonstrators carrying banners and placards calling for the retention of acute services at the Tyrone County Hospital protested out side the district council offices on Monday during the launch of the council's regeneration initiative for the town.
Local members of the health union, unison joined two of the relatives of those killed in the Omagh bombing, Mr. Laurence Rush and Mr. Michael Gallagher, to call on the Secretary of state, Dr. Mo Mowlam, to halt any attempts to downgrade the hospital.
In the immediate aftermath of the bomb, the Western Health and Social Services suspended its review of acute hospital services. However at the end of September, the Board resumed its consultation process.
Mr. Rush, whose wife, Libbi, died in the August 15 atrocity has launched a campaign to have services retained and upgraded at the County and fears that it could lose its acute status.
He has erected a number of banners in the town and on approach roads to it, calling for the County to be saved.
And this week, he had thousands of postcards printed, addressed to the Prime Minister Tony Blair and Dr. Mowlam, for people to sign, again calling for services to be retained.
He explained that batches of these postcards were being sent to other countries, including the United States and Spain, where they would be distributed to the general public by various organisations.
Posters have also been printed, and he hopes to display these in shops and businesses around the town.
Speaking outside the council offices, he said. "I want the Tyrone County to be a lasting memorial to my wife and the other victims. We have been putting up banners, and intend having them in place from the Ballygawley roundabout right through to Omagh, and along roads on the other side of the town."
He said this was just the start of the campaign, and he was now seeking sponsorship to continue it.
Mr Rush went to Blackpool at the weekend, where the Labour Party Conference was being held, and protested outside the hotel where the delegates were staying.
He also intends to travel to Brighton this week, where the Conservative Party is holding its conference, in a bid to win support for his campaign.
Mr. Gallagher, who lost his son, Aidan, in the bombing, said he was backing Mr. Rush in his campaign.
'Unthinkable'
He said, "It is totally unthinkable that people should have to do something like this, after what happened here in Omagh."
He went on: "I was at the back of the County Hospital within 20 minutes of the bomb going off. If there had been no hospital to go to, I don't know what would have happened."
Mr. Gallagher added that it was unbelievable that the County should be run down, after so many lives were saved there.
Olive Wylie, secretary of the local Unison branch, said members were keen to air their views that acute services must be retained at the Tyrone County.
"This is a very emotive subject for everyone. It is important that we get across to people what it means if our acute services are taken away," she said.
She said she was aware that services had to move forward, and things had to change, but there was a fear that important specialist services would be removed from the County.
"The most specialist service is the anaesthetic service. And if we lose any of out acute services, we may not retain 24-hour anaesthetic cover.
This service is often underestimated by the public, but it is the first step in saving a life," she said.
Mr John McConnell, from the NIO, who is assisting in the co-ordination of the Government's response to the Omagh bombing, spoke to both Mr. Rush and Mr. Gallagher, before attending a short meeting with councillors, prior to the launch of 'Omagh Renewal and Beyond".
While the demonstration was peaceful, there were angry scenes when the protesters were refused entry to the council offices.
Banners and placards were held up against the glass doors, and some hammered on the doors, demanding entry.
West Tyrone MP, Mr. William Thompson, had difficulty getting into the building, and addressed the protesters on the steps.
Later, four representatives, including Mr. Rush and Mr. Gallagher, were invited up to the council chamber to sit in on the meeting between councillors and the Secretary of State.
They also attended the launch of the strategy for rebuilding the town, and afterwards spoke to Dr. Mowlam.
Questioned about the future of the Tyrone County, the Secretary of State said she would listen to the people of Omagh were saying.
"I will represent your case fairly, and put it to the Health Board, which is responsible for making the decision on this matter," she said.
She added that she would be happy to meet a delegation from Unison to discuss the issue further.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1262
Published Date: 08-Oct-98
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