EVEN STIRLING SERVICE CANNOT GUARANTEE THE COUNTY
Even sterling service through the worst atrocity of the troubles cannot guarantee the 'County'
Adrian Mullan looks at how the Tyrone County Hospital coped during the bomb and how it now has a very uncertain future
As the reality of what had happened quickly apparent on August 15th last, the Tyrone County Hospital became the immediate focus of attention.
The Hospital had a plan to cater for large scale emergencies, though the scale of of the emergency could not have been foreseen. Medical, nursing, and ancillary staff preempted the official procedure, as many living in and around Omagh actually heard the massive explosion and rushed forward to do what they could.
Amid the confusion, the crashing of local telephone communications as thousands of people tried to find out what was happening, compounded the difficulties. Hundreds of others rang to offer help and to donate blood.
Though the hospital had catered for casualties, often multiple casualties, during the 'troubles' the scale of the slaughter and and the numbers injured meant that many people had to be taken to Derry, Enniskillen, and Belfast.
For the Tyrone County Hospital and its staff it was a moment of heroism and self sacrifice. Staff worked in impossible conditions without a break for many hours, and amid the terrible grief, pain, and horror, the Tyrone County Hospital was the lifeline of the local community.
Afterwards, as Omagh became a more or less permanent posting for government Ministers, the most senior people in the Blair government paid tribute to the Tyrone County Hospital.
Talk of reviews and cuts were, temporarily, suspended and additional resources were given to the 'County' to see it through the crisis.
Then, as the weeks passed, and the dust began to settle, the unthinkable happened, the stripping of services continued. In February, the papers reported that the paediatrics unit of the hospital was marked for closure which meant that there was to be no nighttime cover in Omagh for sick
children. 'Save the Hospital' groups opposed the closure, however by early summer the service was no longer available.
While paediatrics was being closed, the physiotherapy centre was getting refitted with state of the art advancements, many of which were extensively used in the rehabilitation of those injured and maimed in the bomb.
THE BEST
Similarly, the hospital's renal unit is amongst the best in Western Europe and was recently the subject of a visit by a delegation from Omagh District Council. The visit prompted one Councillor to remark: 'Fortunately, most of us will never need renal dialysis but we all had to be born', a reference to the fact that specialist Gynae and Maternity services had been lost to the hospital some time ago.
In the aftermath of the bomb, John Prescott, John McFall, Adam Ingram, and a host of other government Ministers visited the 'County' and all were vocal in their support for its great work.
On September 3rd the fate of the Tyrone County Hospital and the Erne will be decided by the Western Health and Social Services Board. For the past number of months a review of acute care in the 'west' has been underway, followed by a period of consultation.
The Independent Review Chaired by Bob Nicholls, reported that the present system of one hospital on two sites was unsustainable; similarly he stressed that the case for one hospital in the 'West' let alone two was difficult.
However, he suggested that a new 'green field site' hospital to replace both the Erne and the Tyrone County was the most feasible option Though his report was accepted by the Board it was not adopted. Therefore, until September 3rd the shape of hospital care provision in the 'West' remains unknown. However, it seems unlikely that the Tyrone County Hospital will survive in its present form.
It is somewhat, ironic that the hospitals serving two communities devastated by bombs, albeit more than a decade apart, are required to compete against each other for future survival.
Adrian Mullan looks at how the Tyrone County Hospital coped during the bomb and how it now has a very uncertain future
As the reality of what had happened quickly apparent on August 15th last, the Tyrone County Hospital became the immediate focus of attention.
The Hospital had a plan to cater for large scale emergencies, though the scale of of the emergency could not have been foreseen. Medical, nursing, and ancillary staff preempted the official procedure, as many living in and around Omagh actually heard the massive explosion and rushed forward to do what they could.
Amid the confusion, the crashing of local telephone communications as thousands of people tried to find out what was happening, compounded the difficulties. Hundreds of others rang to offer help and to donate blood.
Though the hospital had catered for casualties, often multiple casualties, during the 'troubles' the scale of the slaughter and and the numbers injured meant that many people had to be taken to Derry, Enniskillen, and Belfast.
For the Tyrone County Hospital and its staff it was a moment of heroism and self sacrifice. Staff worked in impossible conditions without a break for many hours, and amid the terrible grief, pain, and horror, the Tyrone County Hospital was the lifeline of the local community.
Afterwards, as Omagh became a more or less permanent posting for government Ministers, the most senior people in the Blair government paid tribute to the Tyrone County Hospital.
Talk of reviews and cuts were, temporarily, suspended and additional resources were given to the 'County' to see it through the crisis.
Then, as the weeks passed, and the dust began to settle, the unthinkable happened, the stripping of services continued. In February, the papers reported that the paediatrics unit of the hospital was marked for closure which meant that there was to be no nighttime cover in Omagh for sick
children. 'Save the Hospital' groups opposed the closure, however by early summer the service was no longer available.
While paediatrics was being closed, the physiotherapy centre was getting refitted with state of the art advancements, many of which were extensively used in the rehabilitation of those injured and maimed in the bomb.
THE BEST
Similarly, the hospital's renal unit is amongst the best in Western Europe and was recently the subject of a visit by a delegation from Omagh District Council. The visit prompted one Councillor to remark: 'Fortunately, most of us will never need renal dialysis but we all had to be born', a reference to the fact that specialist Gynae and Maternity services had been lost to the hospital some time ago.
In the aftermath of the bomb, John Prescott, John McFall, Adam Ingram, and a host of other government Ministers visited the 'County' and all were vocal in their support for its great work.
On September 3rd the fate of the Tyrone County Hospital and the Erne will be decided by the Western Health and Social Services Board. For the past number of months a review of acute care in the 'west' has been underway, followed by a period of consultation.
The Independent Review Chaired by Bob Nicholls, reported that the present system of one hospital on two sites was unsustainable; similarly he stressed that the case for one hospital in the 'West' let alone two was difficult.
However, he suggested that a new 'green field site' hospital to replace both the Erne and the Tyrone County was the most feasible option Though his report was accepted by the Board it was not adopted. Therefore, until September 3rd the shape of hospital care provision in the 'West' remains unknown. However, it seems unlikely that the Tyrone County Hospital will survive in its present form.
It is somewhat, ironic that the hospitals serving two communities devastated by bombs, albeit more than a decade apart, are required to compete against each other for future survival.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0456
Published Date: 12-Aug-99
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