BOARD CHAIRMAN PRAISES WORK OF MEDICAL STAFF
Board Chairman praises work of medical staff
THE CHAIRMAN of the Western Health and Social Services Board has paid the highest of tribute to medical, nursing and social services staff who responded so "magnificently" to Saturday's slaughter of the innocent.
Robert Toland said that the thoughts and prayers of all the staff, within the health and social services in the Western area, were with the people of Omagh and all those who have had members of their families 'killed or injured in Saturday's explosion.
'Health and social care staff in Omagh, in Fermanagh, at Altnagelvin and from across Northern Ireland have been working tirelessly and heroically to provide emergency care and support in the immediate aftermath of an act of inhumanity which has brought pain and suffering to the entire community. They have been joined in this work by colleagues from all emergency services, by voluntary organisations and by member of the public who have shown the kind of courage and spirit which cannot be defeated by those who carrying out such evil deeds", he said.
However, he pointed out, it would take considerable time for people to even begin to recover from "this devastating tragedy".
Health and Social Care staff would continue to support the community in any .way that it can throughout the long and painful process of recovery, he said.
"The sense of disbelief we felt at Saturday's outrage was compounded on Sunday morning when an ambulance conveying two of the seriously injured to specialist services in Belfast was involved in a road traffic accident which resulted in further death and serious injury. Our thoughts are with these families also at this time".
Mr Toland paid tribute to the medical, nursing, ambulance, social work and other staff who are working with victims and their families.
"Like everyone else I hoped we had seen the last of these kind of attacks on innocent communities, but I am so proud that our staff and our GP colleagues have been able to respond so magnificently in the most difficult of circumstances. Our staff are very much part of the community they serve and many of those who work in the health and social services in Omagh have lost friends and relatives. Our thoughts and prayers are also with them and I am very conscious that they will need our support into the future."
THE CHAIRMAN of the Western Health and Social Services Board has paid the highest of tribute to medical, nursing and social services staff who responded so "magnificently" to Saturday's slaughter of the innocent.
Robert Toland said that the thoughts and prayers of all the staff, within the health and social services in the Western area, were with the people of Omagh and all those who have had members of their families 'killed or injured in Saturday's explosion.
'Health and social care staff in Omagh, in Fermanagh, at Altnagelvin and from across Northern Ireland have been working tirelessly and heroically to provide emergency care and support in the immediate aftermath of an act of inhumanity which has brought pain and suffering to the entire community. They have been joined in this work by colleagues from all emergency services, by voluntary organisations and by member of the public who have shown the kind of courage and spirit which cannot be defeated by those who carrying out such evil deeds", he said.
However, he pointed out, it would take considerable time for people to even begin to recover from "this devastating tragedy".
Health and Social Care staff would continue to support the community in any .way that it can throughout the long and painful process of recovery, he said.
"The sense of disbelief we felt at Saturday's outrage was compounded on Sunday morning when an ambulance conveying two of the seriously injured to specialist services in Belfast was involved in a road traffic accident which resulted in further death and serious injury. Our thoughts are with these families also at this time".
Mr Toland paid tribute to the medical, nursing, ambulance, social work and other staff who are working with victims and their families.
"Like everyone else I hoped we had seen the last of these kind of attacks on innocent communities, but I am so proud that our staff and our GP colleagues have been able to respond so magnificently in the most difficult of circumstances. Our staff are very much part of the community they serve and many of those who work in the health and social services in Omagh have lost friends and relatives. Our thoughts and prayers are also with them and I am very conscious that they will need our support into the future."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0051
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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