UUP LEADER COMES TO WEST TYRONE
UUP leader comes to west Tyrone to hear at first hand the concerns of various groups
Reports by Olga Bradshaw
Stabilising of current services at County Hospital is vital, says Trimble
THE leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Mr. David Trimble, was in West Tyrone on Monday to show support for his party's local Assembly election hopefuls, Mr. Derek Hussey, who will be seeking re-election, and Mr. Bert Wilson.
And he also sounded his concern over the 'Tyrone gap in acute hospital provision' following the Minister's decision to strip the 'County' of its services with a new hospital to be built at Enniskillen.
During a whistlestop tour of the Omagh, Newtownstewart and Strabane area, Mr. Trimble had a rigorous round of engagements which began at Dock Street, Strabane, at a meeting with representatives of the Ulster Farmers' Union.
During his time with representatives from that organisation, Mr. Trimble heard first hand of the difficulties experienced in the rural community.
An hour later, the UUP leader arrived at Grange Court, Newtownstewart, where he spoke to members of West Tyrone Voice, at which there was a presentation by Dr. Hazlett Lynch, and discussion focused on issues relating to victims of terrorism.
Mr. Trimble's entourage then moved on to Omagh District Council offices for a crunch meeting with the members of the Hospital Campaign Group, at which Mr. Trimble congratulated members on the clarity of their presentation and assured them that he was being kept up-to-date by his West Tyrone MLA., Mr. Derek Hussey.
The Ulster Unionist leader reiterated his previous statement of support in that the issue of the 'Tyrone gap in acute hospital provision' needed to be addressed by the Assembly Executive in the event of a restoration of local government at Stormont.
From there it was on to the Omagh UUP constituency office, where he was greeted by health service workers, where Mr. Trimble was appraised of the current difficulties and fears of those who worked 'at the coal face' of health provision in the county.
Mr. Trimble agreed with staff that it was vital that current services at the County Hospital be stabilised and that deterioration through 'administrative ambivalence' cease immediately.
His final engagement was in Campsie in the town where he was met by members of the Omagh Self-Help and Support Group, who spoke to the UUP leader about concerns they had over the investigation of the Omagh bombing.
Such was the demand for the UUP leader's time by the various groups, that by the end of the day the entourage was almost two hours behind schedule, but each of the groups who met the MP were granted full and frank meetings, and the party leader engaged in earnest discussions taking due regard of each group's concerns without scrimping on time, despite the hectic nature of his itinerary.
Listening exercise
Mr. Hussey welcomed the visit to the West Tyrone area by his party leader, and said it took the form of a listening exercise, which encompassed three main areas of concern for the people here.
Commenting on the meetings with the Omagh Self-Help Group and the members of West Tyrone Voice, Mr. Hussey said: "Both of these groups expressed similar concerns on issues of definition of victims and funding disparities experienced by such groups. Likewise, both groupings explained the difficulties of continuing sustainability within current funding arrangements.
"David Trimble expressed the view that it was vitally important that real victims groups continued to carry on the work of support for their clients and agreed to bring the matter to the attention of government with a view to ensuring greater funding opportunities and support for their work," Mr. Hussey said.
Mr. Hussey said that the UU leader also agreed that a cross-border inquiry would assist a proper re-evaluation of the Omagh bomb events.
He also highlighted how the UUP leader had heard of concerns and experiences in West Tyrone in the aftermath of the announcement over acute hospital provision by Minister Des Browne.
"I am pleased that Mr. Trimble has taken time out to visit West Tyrone and addressed these issues of major importance to our constituents," he said.
"During the visit the party leader also discovered first hand the frustration and difficulties that we all experience on our roads infrastructure throughout the constituency," he said.
"I thank and congratulate all those groups who took the time and made the effort to clearly and forthrightly state their various cases directly to David Trimble and would assure then that I will keep these issues on our party's agenda," he said.
Reports by Olga Bradshaw
Stabilising of current services at County Hospital is vital, says Trimble
THE leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Mr. David Trimble, was in West Tyrone on Monday to show support for his party's local Assembly election hopefuls, Mr. Derek Hussey, who will be seeking re-election, and Mr. Bert Wilson.
And he also sounded his concern over the 'Tyrone gap in acute hospital provision' following the Minister's decision to strip the 'County' of its services with a new hospital to be built at Enniskillen.
During a whistlestop tour of the Omagh, Newtownstewart and Strabane area, Mr. Trimble had a rigorous round of engagements which began at Dock Street, Strabane, at a meeting with representatives of the Ulster Farmers' Union.
During his time with representatives from that organisation, Mr. Trimble heard first hand of the difficulties experienced in the rural community.
An hour later, the UUP leader arrived at Grange Court, Newtownstewart, where he spoke to members of West Tyrone Voice, at which there was a presentation by Dr. Hazlett Lynch, and discussion focused on issues relating to victims of terrorism.
Mr. Trimble's entourage then moved on to Omagh District Council offices for a crunch meeting with the members of the Hospital Campaign Group, at which Mr. Trimble congratulated members on the clarity of their presentation and assured them that he was being kept up-to-date by his West Tyrone MLA., Mr. Derek Hussey.
The Ulster Unionist leader reiterated his previous statement of support in that the issue of the 'Tyrone gap in acute hospital provision' needed to be addressed by the Assembly Executive in the event of a restoration of local government at Stormont.
From there it was on to the Omagh UUP constituency office, where he was greeted by health service workers, where Mr. Trimble was appraised of the current difficulties and fears of those who worked 'at the coal face' of health provision in the county.
Mr. Trimble agreed with staff that it was vital that current services at the County Hospital be stabilised and that deterioration through 'administrative ambivalence' cease immediately.
His final engagement was in Campsie in the town where he was met by members of the Omagh Self-Help and Support Group, who spoke to the UUP leader about concerns they had over the investigation of the Omagh bombing.
Such was the demand for the UUP leader's time by the various groups, that by the end of the day the entourage was almost two hours behind schedule, but each of the groups who met the MP were granted full and frank meetings, and the party leader engaged in earnest discussions taking due regard of each group's concerns without scrimping on time, despite the hectic nature of his itinerary.
Listening exercise
Mr. Hussey welcomed the visit to the West Tyrone area by his party leader, and said it took the form of a listening exercise, which encompassed three main areas of concern for the people here.
Commenting on the meetings with the Omagh Self-Help Group and the members of West Tyrone Voice, Mr. Hussey said: "Both of these groups expressed similar concerns on issues of definition of victims and funding disparities experienced by such groups. Likewise, both groupings explained the difficulties of continuing sustainability within current funding arrangements.
"David Trimble expressed the view that it was vitally important that real victims groups continued to carry on the work of support for their clients and agreed to bring the matter to the attention of government with a view to ensuring greater funding opportunities and support for their work," Mr. Hussey said.
Mr. Hussey said that the UU leader also agreed that a cross-border inquiry would assist a proper re-evaluation of the Omagh bomb events.
He also highlighted how the UUP leader had heard of concerns and experiences in West Tyrone in the aftermath of the announcement over acute hospital provision by Minister Des Browne.
"I am pleased that Mr. Trimble has taken time out to visit West Tyrone and addressed these issues of major importance to our constituents," he said.
"During the visit the party leader also discovered first hand the frustration and difficulties that we all experience on our roads infrastructure throughout the constituency," he said.
"I thank and congratulate all those groups who took the time and made the effort to clearly and forthrightly state their various cases directly to David Trimble and would assure then that I will keep these issues on our party's agenda," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1602
Published Date: 10-Apr-03
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