BURNS SPECIALIST REMAINING IN POST AT RVH
Burns specialist remaining in post at RVH
By: NIGEL McDONAGH
OMAGH bomb victims received some comforting festive news when it was revealed that Northern Ireland's top burns specialist has decided to withdraw his tender of resignation and remain at his post.
In a letter to the Chairman of Sperrin Lakeland Trust, Richard Scott, Health Minister, Bairbre de Brun, confirmed that Dr Kalid Khan had withdrawn his earlier resignation.
Dr Khan, who had been due to take up a new post in Nottingham early this year, was involved in treating many of the people injured in the Omagh bomb atrocity on August 15th 1998.
In tendering his resignation, Dr Khan stated that his reasons for leaving was that he could no longer be responsible for treating patients in such an under-funded department.
His decision sparked a wave of protests from the local burns victims, who began a campaign to force the government to provide proper funds for the burns unit.
However, in her letter to Mr Scott just before Christmas, Ms de Brun said that he had highlighted the potential consequences for the treatment of the victims from the Omagh bomb and that Dr Khan had withdrawn his resignation and indicated his willingness to stay.
"I have been concerned about this matter and my officials have been liaising closely with the Royal Group of Hospitals Trust, although you will fully understand that this is, in the first instance, a matter for the Trust involved.
"I am happy to say that, following discussions between the Trust and Dr Khan, Dr Khan has withdrawn his decision and has indicated his willingness to stay," said the Minister.
Ms de Brun further revealed that Dr Khan will continue as a locum consultant pending the competition to appoint a substantive consultant to the Burns Unit, and that she understood that the Trust will be seeking to appoint a second consultant to the Unit on a locum basis to assist with the burns work and breast reconstruction.
"I am pleased that Dr Khan has withdrawn his resignation and will continue to be involved in the Burns Unit so that services can be maintained and patients, including some of those injured in the Omagh bomb, can continue to get the treatment they need," she said. The decision has been welcomed by West Tyrone MLA Barry McElduff who said he was heartened by Ms de Brun's positive intervention to lend practical and moral support in order to secure the services of Dr Khan.
"The Health Minister used her good office to secure additional money for this area of great need," he said.
By: NIGEL McDONAGH
OMAGH bomb victims received some comforting festive news when it was revealed that Northern Ireland's top burns specialist has decided to withdraw his tender of resignation and remain at his post.
In a letter to the Chairman of Sperrin Lakeland Trust, Richard Scott, Health Minister, Bairbre de Brun, confirmed that Dr Kalid Khan had withdrawn his earlier resignation.
Dr Khan, who had been due to take up a new post in Nottingham early this year, was involved in treating many of the people injured in the Omagh bomb atrocity on August 15th 1998.
In tendering his resignation, Dr Khan stated that his reasons for leaving was that he could no longer be responsible for treating patients in such an under-funded department.
His decision sparked a wave of protests from the local burns victims, who began a campaign to force the government to provide proper funds for the burns unit.
However, in her letter to Mr Scott just before Christmas, Ms de Brun said that he had highlighted the potential consequences for the treatment of the victims from the Omagh bomb and that Dr Khan had withdrawn his resignation and indicated his willingness to stay.
"I have been concerned about this matter and my officials have been liaising closely with the Royal Group of Hospitals Trust, although you will fully understand that this is, in the first instance, a matter for the Trust involved.
"I am happy to say that, following discussions between the Trust and Dr Khan, Dr Khan has withdrawn his decision and has indicated his willingness to stay," said the Minister.
Ms de Brun further revealed that Dr Khan will continue as a locum consultant pending the competition to appoint a substantive consultant to the Burns Unit, and that she understood that the Trust will be seeking to appoint a second consultant to the Unit on a locum basis to assist with the burns work and breast reconstruction.
"I am pleased that Dr Khan has withdrawn his resignation and will continue to be involved in the Burns Unit so that services can be maintained and patients, including some of those injured in the Omagh bomb, can continue to get the treatment they need," she said. The decision has been welcomed by West Tyrone MLA Barry McElduff who said he was heartened by Ms de Brun's positive intervention to lend practical and moral support in order to secure the services of Dr Khan.
"The Health Minister used her good office to secure additional money for this area of great need," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0723
Published Date: 04-Jan-01
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.