HEALTH BOARD REGRET OVER QUESTIONNAIRE TO OMAGH BOMBING BEREAVED FAMILIES
Health Board 'regret' over questionnaire to Omagh bombing bereaved families
THE Western Health and Social Services Board has expressed its "deep concern and regret" at last week's revelation that the Sperrin Lakeland Trust sent a questionnaire on the Omagh bombing to one of those killed.
A copy of the questionnaire, which is being sent out as part of a study to determine what services are needed to help people cope in the aftermath of last August's atrocity, was sent to Mrs. Libby Rush, who was among the 29 people who lost their lives.
Some of the bereaved also received questionnaires through the post. When the blunders came,to light, the Trust was forced to apologise for the hurt caused.
Speaking at the meeting of the Board on Thursday, Mr Tom Frawley, general manager, said the Board could not walk away from what had happened.
"What happened is to be regretted. The Trust is in a very difficult position. It needs to establish whether the service it is providing is meeting the needs of those affected by the bomb," he said.
"But its good intentions went wrong, and that must be regretted and apologised for. He said lessons had to be learned from what happened and for the great hurt that was caused. "We would have concerns about whether the methods the Trust used were the right ones, but what it was trying to do was important. It needs to know how people are coping and what is needed to help. However, we must have on record our deep concern and regret at the hurt that was caused," Mr. Frawley said.
THE Western Health and Social Services Board has expressed its "deep concern and regret" at last week's revelation that the Sperrin Lakeland Trust sent a questionnaire on the Omagh bombing to one of those killed.
A copy of the questionnaire, which is being sent out as part of a study to determine what services are needed to help people cope in the aftermath of last August's atrocity, was sent to Mrs. Libby Rush, who was among the 29 people who lost their lives.
Some of the bereaved also received questionnaires through the post. When the blunders came,to light, the Trust was forced to apologise for the hurt caused.
Speaking at the meeting of the Board on Thursday, Mr Tom Frawley, general manager, said the Board could not walk away from what had happened.
"What happened is to be regretted. The Trust is in a very difficult position. It needs to establish whether the service it is providing is meeting the needs of those affected by the bomb," he said.
"But its good intentions went wrong, and that must be regretted and apologised for. He said lessons had to be learned from what happened and for the great hurt that was caused. "We would have concerns about whether the methods the Trust used were the right ones, but what it was trying to do was important. It needs to know how people are coping and what is needed to help. However, we must have on record our deep concern and regret at the hurt that was caused," Mr. Frawley said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1338
Published Date: 01-Apr-99
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