HORRORS OF BOMBING IMPACTS ON HEALTH WORKERS
Horrors of bombing impacts on health workers
A MAJOR study by the University of Ulster has found that medical professionals subjected to the horrific aftermath of the Omagh bombing became so isolated they felt unable to continue working.
Such was the impact of the bombing, that some veteran emergency staff were forced to leave their jobs as they could not cope. They included paramedics and other health workers, many of whom, the report said, had worked through the worst of the Troubles of the past 30 years.
According to the University of Ulster lecturer, Dr. Selwyn Black, some clinicians who supported the bereaved and injured, were left feeling they could no longer cope.
"A number of middle aged medical emergency staff felt they could no longer cope emotionally with their jobs. They had been exposed to some of the worst outrages of the Troubles during their working lives and the Omagh bombing was just one experience too many".
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that the findings from the report are to be used in a bid to achieve new care standards for worldwide trauma sufferers.
Even though less than 20 percent of professionals dealing with trauma will suffer, Dr. Black's work showed that the effects could take other forms, including values and personal beliefs being undermined.
The ground-breaking resech and subsequent report by the University focused on the clinicians , and Dr. Black's work also included an examination of the experiences of doctors in the civil war in Bosnia.
The work has extablished for the first time a framework for measuring the intensity of trauma suffered by doctors, nurses, psychologists and
psychiatrists, and the research has also led to the establishment at the University of the first postgraduate trauma course in the UK.
"After 30 years of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, we can establish a research base which could make a valuable contribution to the management of trauma both here and in other areas of the world," Dr. Black said.
A MAJOR study by the University of Ulster has found that medical professionals subjected to the horrific aftermath of the Omagh bombing became so isolated they felt unable to continue working.
Such was the impact of the bombing, that some veteran emergency staff were forced to leave their jobs as they could not cope. They included paramedics and other health workers, many of whom, the report said, had worked through the worst of the Troubles of the past 30 years.
According to the University of Ulster lecturer, Dr. Selwyn Black, some clinicians who supported the bereaved and injured, were left feeling they could no longer cope.
"A number of middle aged medical emergency staff felt they could no longer cope emotionally with their jobs. They had been exposed to some of the worst outrages of the Troubles during their working lives and the Omagh bombing was just one experience too many".
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that the findings from the report are to be used in a bid to achieve new care standards for worldwide trauma sufferers.
Even though less than 20 percent of professionals dealing with trauma will suffer, Dr. Black's work showed that the effects could take other forms, including values and personal beliefs being undermined.
The ground-breaking resech and subsequent report by the University focused on the clinicians , and Dr. Black's work also included an examination of the experiences of doctors in the civil war in Bosnia.
The work has extablished for the first time a framework for measuring the intensity of trauma suffered by doctors, nurses, psychologists and
psychiatrists, and the research has also led to the establishment at the University of the first postgraduate trauma course in the UK.
"After 30 years of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, we can establish a research base which could make a valuable contribution to the management of trauma both here and in other areas of the world," Dr. Black said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1619
Published Date: 14-Aug-03
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