UPGRADED HOSPITAL WOULD BE A FITTING TRIBUTE TO THE VICTIMS
Upgraded hospital would be a fitting tribute to the victims.
BY: ADRIAN MULLAN
Emotional plea comes from husband of bomb victim
THE only fitting memorial to the people of Omagh who perished in the Market Street bomb is an end to the cuts and an extension of services at the Tyrone County Hospital, said the husband of one of the victims.
Speaking on Monday, Lawrence Rushe, who's wife, Elizabeth (Libby) died in the blast, said; "I would like to see the hospital extended. If it was a good idea to have a hospital here 50 years ago, it is a good idea now. Cutbacks don't come into it. If a country can't support the poor people and the injured people and education then what are we all working for?"
He said that that it would be a great memorial to all of those who had died to have the hospital retained and built-up. As he spoke to television crews at the Omagh District Council offices on Monday, he said the the spirit of the Omagh people would see them "get back up and have a go again".
He asked, "What did these people [the bombers] achieve? What they have gained is useless and obscene. The people are saying to the bombers you have gained you have gained death and mayhem and heartache in Omagh but we are still here and we're going to keep going."
In a separate development, his support for the 'County' was echoed by M.P. for Mid-Ulster, Martin McGuinness, who also called for services in the Mid-Ulster Hospital in Magherafelt and the South Tyrone Hospital in Dungannon to be extended.
In a statement this week, the Sinn Fein M.P. said he shuddered to think of the consequences if the tragedy had followed the downgrading of acute services at the Tyrone County Hospital.
Calling on Health Minister, John McFall, to abandon plans to reduce the level of acute services at the 'County', Mr McGuinness said that the speed with which doctors and nurses and staff at the 'County' responded to the emergency, was nothing short of inspiring.
"There just aren't enough worthy words to describe them. I have no doubt that if it were not for their dedication and expertise the death tolls would have been greater."
Assembly man, Joe Byrne, also put the Tyrone the issue with the Prime Minister during Tuesday's visit and, separately, with the Secretary of State.
Mr Byrne said he told the P.M. that the people of Omagh needed support from government from the highest government level, with top priority being given to secure the future viability of the 'County'. He said he had visited Omagh's wounded in six hospitals and was assured by medical staff that the role of the TCH was vital in stabilising patients before the the most seriously injured were moved to other hospitals."
Making a similar point to the Secretary of State, Mr Byrne asked for an assurance that the Tyrone County Hospital would not be downgraded any further by bureaucrats.
BY: ADRIAN MULLAN
Emotional plea comes from husband of bomb victim
THE only fitting memorial to the people of Omagh who perished in the Market Street bomb is an end to the cuts and an extension of services at the Tyrone County Hospital, said the husband of one of the victims.
Speaking on Monday, Lawrence Rushe, who's wife, Elizabeth (Libby) died in the blast, said; "I would like to see the hospital extended. If it was a good idea to have a hospital here 50 years ago, it is a good idea now. Cutbacks don't come into it. If a country can't support the poor people and the injured people and education then what are we all working for?"
He said that that it would be a great memorial to all of those who had died to have the hospital retained and built-up. As he spoke to television crews at the Omagh District Council offices on Monday, he said the the spirit of the Omagh people would see them "get back up and have a go again".
He asked, "What did these people [the bombers] achieve? What they have gained is useless and obscene. The people are saying to the bombers you have gained you have gained death and mayhem and heartache in Omagh but we are still here and we're going to keep going."
In a separate development, his support for the 'County' was echoed by M.P. for Mid-Ulster, Martin McGuinness, who also called for services in the Mid-Ulster Hospital in Magherafelt and the South Tyrone Hospital in Dungannon to be extended.
In a statement this week, the Sinn Fein M.P. said he shuddered to think of the consequences if the tragedy had followed the downgrading of acute services at the Tyrone County Hospital.
Calling on Health Minister, John McFall, to abandon plans to reduce the level of acute services at the 'County', Mr McGuinness said that the speed with which doctors and nurses and staff at the 'County' responded to the emergency, was nothing short of inspiring.
"There just aren't enough worthy words to describe them. I have no doubt that if it were not for their dedication and expertise the death tolls would have been greater."
Assembly man, Joe Byrne, also put the Tyrone the issue with the Prime Minister during Tuesday's visit and, separately, with the Secretary of State.
Mr Byrne said he told the P.M. that the people of Omagh needed support from government from the highest government level, with top priority being given to secure the future viability of the 'County'. He said he had visited Omagh's wounded in six hospitals and was assured by medical staff that the role of the TCH was vital in stabilising patients before the the most seriously injured were moved to other hospitals."
Making a similar point to the Secretary of State, Mr Byrne asked for an assurance that the Tyrone County Hospital would not be downgraded any further by bureaucrats.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0155
Published Date: 27-Aug-98
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