REVIEW OF ACUTE HOSPITAL SERVICES PUT ON HOLD
Review of acute hospital services put on hold
Scene at Tyrone County Hospital resembled a war zone
AS TRIBUTES poured in from all over the country for the tremendous work of the staff at the Tyrone County Hospital following
Saturday's bomb atrocity, a senior health official has said that in light of the Omagh bomb the review of acute hospital services locally had been put on hold.
In a statement yesterday, Mr Tom Frawley, General Manager of the Western Health and Social Services Board said that everyone involved in the review of acute services was very of their conscious responsibility to the people living in the Western area.
"The terrible experience of last Saturday highlights the need to secure sustainable high quality acute care for all of our population. The horrendous tragedy inflicted on the people of Omagh and visitors to the town on Saturday, therefore is very much on our minds.
"In such circumstances, the energies of health and social care staff must be focussed on supporting the victims and their families. It is therefore likely to be several weeks before all those involved in the review can consider recommencing the review of acute services," he said.
As local people struggle to come to terms with the enormity of Saturday's events, councillors and health officials have joined local people in expressing their concerns over what might have happened if the Tyrone County did not have all its acute facilities.
In the immediate aftermath of the bomb, 148 people were taken to the County Hospital and 62 were admitted. Eyewitness accounts from doctors and local people said that the hospital resembled a war zone with injured and dying people lying everywhere.
Health workers from all over Northern Ireland together with retired staff and those supposed to be on holiday rushed to the hospital as soon as news of the bombing filtered through. Within hours the hospital had treated everyone and had either admitted, discharged or transferred patients according to the severity of their injuries.
Consultation carried out by the Sperrin Lakeland Trust last year had made a recommendation for an acute hospital on two sites in Enniskillen and Omagh. Trust Chief Executive, Hugh Mills said this was still their view and indeed this had been reinforced by the tragic events at the weekend.
"A partnership has already been established between the two hospitals and this was immensely invaluable on Saturday as was evident by the immediate transfer of so many patients to the Erne in supporting the treatment of patients at the Tyrone County," he said.
Mr Mills went on to praise the work of all the staff, from the hospital and voluntary groups in responding to Saturday's bomb.
"It was a magnificent effort on everyone's part and in due course we are hoping thank all those involved on an individual basis. One fact that continues to amaze me is the work of the Accident and Emergency and Outpatients who took less than four hours from the time of the incident to have all the patients either treated or discharged," he said.
This view was echoed by Frank Hughes, Chairman of Western Health and Social Services Council who extended their heartfelt sympathy to all the bereaved and injured and said he wished to record the Council's thanks to all the emergency services and the hundreds of wiling volunteers who helped.
Mr Hughes said during a recent meeting in Strabane people there had said how proud they were of the way the County had coped and many had wondered what would have happened if they did not have their acute facilities.
"My argument would be that we need acute services, we definitely need Accident and Emergency even if it's only a place where injured people can be stabilised before they are transferred.
"Staff in the Tyrone County got great praise from the doctors and consultants at the Royal Victoria and Altnagelvin because of the work they had done in helping to treat people and stabilise their conditions. They said that the hospital staff had saved the lives of many people," he said.
He went on to say that he accepted there would have to be a change of focus in the services of both the Tyrone County and Erne Hospital but repeated his appeal for the retention of some level of Accident and Emergency service.
Meanwhile, Independent Community Councillor, Paddy McGowan said he had been appealing for a end to changes to local hospitals for a long time. He said he dreaded to think what the outcome might have been if the Tyrone County did not have its Accident and Emergency services.
"Without trying to be politicise the matter all I am saying is please keep your hands off Omagh and Enniskillen hospitals. I want no running down to any of these hospitals they are vital to the community.
"There are any number of man made tragedies which could happen here and which would require the services of the hospital, but I just hope no other tragedies like this ever happen again," he said.
Scene at Tyrone County Hospital resembled a war zone
AS TRIBUTES poured in from all over the country for the tremendous work of the staff at the Tyrone County Hospital following
Saturday's bomb atrocity, a senior health official has said that in light of the Omagh bomb the review of acute hospital services locally had been put on hold.
In a statement yesterday, Mr Tom Frawley, General Manager of the Western Health and Social Services Board said that everyone involved in the review of acute services was very of their conscious responsibility to the people living in the Western area.
"The terrible experience of last Saturday highlights the need to secure sustainable high quality acute care for all of our population. The horrendous tragedy inflicted on the people of Omagh and visitors to the town on Saturday, therefore is very much on our minds.
"In such circumstances, the energies of health and social care staff must be focussed on supporting the victims and their families. It is therefore likely to be several weeks before all those involved in the review can consider recommencing the review of acute services," he said.
As local people struggle to come to terms with the enormity of Saturday's events, councillors and health officials have joined local people in expressing their concerns over what might have happened if the Tyrone County did not have all its acute facilities.
In the immediate aftermath of the bomb, 148 people were taken to the County Hospital and 62 were admitted. Eyewitness accounts from doctors and local people said that the hospital resembled a war zone with injured and dying people lying everywhere.
Health workers from all over Northern Ireland together with retired staff and those supposed to be on holiday rushed to the hospital as soon as news of the bombing filtered through. Within hours the hospital had treated everyone and had either admitted, discharged or transferred patients according to the severity of their injuries.
Consultation carried out by the Sperrin Lakeland Trust last year had made a recommendation for an acute hospital on two sites in Enniskillen and Omagh. Trust Chief Executive, Hugh Mills said this was still their view and indeed this had been reinforced by the tragic events at the weekend.
"A partnership has already been established between the two hospitals and this was immensely invaluable on Saturday as was evident by the immediate transfer of so many patients to the Erne in supporting the treatment of patients at the Tyrone County," he said.
Mr Mills went on to praise the work of all the staff, from the hospital and voluntary groups in responding to Saturday's bomb.
"It was a magnificent effort on everyone's part and in due course we are hoping thank all those involved on an individual basis. One fact that continues to amaze me is the work of the Accident and Emergency and Outpatients who took less than four hours from the time of the incident to have all the patients either treated or discharged," he said.
This view was echoed by Frank Hughes, Chairman of Western Health and Social Services Council who extended their heartfelt sympathy to all the bereaved and injured and said he wished to record the Council's thanks to all the emergency services and the hundreds of wiling volunteers who helped.
Mr Hughes said during a recent meeting in Strabane people there had said how proud they were of the way the County had coped and many had wondered what would have happened if they did not have their acute facilities.
"My argument would be that we need acute services, we definitely need Accident and Emergency even if it's only a place where injured people can be stabilised before they are transferred.
"Staff in the Tyrone County got great praise from the doctors and consultants at the Royal Victoria and Altnagelvin because of the work they had done in helping to treat people and stabilise their conditions. They said that the hospital staff had saved the lives of many people," he said.
He went on to say that he accepted there would have to be a change of focus in the services of both the Tyrone County and Erne Hospital but repeated his appeal for the retention of some level of Accident and Emergency service.
Meanwhile, Independent Community Councillor, Paddy McGowan said he had been appealing for a end to changes to local hospitals for a long time. He said he dreaded to think what the outcome might have been if the Tyrone County did not have its Accident and Emergency services.
"Without trying to be politicise the matter all I am saying is please keep your hands off Omagh and Enniskillen hospitals. I want no running down to any of these hospitals they are vital to the community.
"There are any number of man made tragedies which could happen here and which would require the services of the hospital, but I just hope no other tragedies like this ever happen again," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0050
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
Related Images
