BURNS SURGEON LEAVES THE ROYAL
Burns surgeon leaves the Royal
BY JOHNMcCUSKER
Families call for resignation of Trust chief
THE father of a victim of the Omagh bombing has called for the resignation of a Belfast hospital chief following the departure this week of a top Belfast-based burns surgeon.
Malachy Keyes whose daughter Donna-Marie suffered 55 per cent burns in the 1998 attack has claimed bosses at the Royal Victoria Hospital have been economical with the truth as regards funding for its specialist burns unit.
His comments follow the departure yesterday of Dr Khalid Khan who quit his post just weeks after being promised extra monies to help sustain the unit.
Mr Keyes has now called on the Royal's Director of Medicine, Dr Ian Carson to stand down after accusing him of reneging on earlier promises to boost funding for the burns surgeon and his team.
The Royal, however, has claimed it has done everything possible to keep the plastic surgeon and promised that equipment requested by Dr Khan was already on its way.
Mr Keyes, Donna Marie and her husband Garry McGillion travelled to Belfast on Monday to speak to Dr Khan about setting up a charity to help raise �70,000 which is required to upgrade the burns division.
Donna Marie and Garry had been shopping in Market Street a week before their wedding along with Garry's sister, Tracey and Tracey's 21-month-old daughter Breda. The youngster died in the blast, while the three adults suffered extensive burns.
Mr McGillion was due to go into hospital next week for further surgery to increase mobility in his arm. That appointment has now been cancelled.
Mr Keyes said: "We were totally shocked when the doctor informed us he was leaving on Wednesday to take up a post in Nottingham.
"He was one of the few surgeons we had come across who were patient-orientated as opposed to money orientated,
"As a result of his departure we are now left in a situation where anyone who suffers extensive burns will have to travel to England for treatment, a move which will cost ten times the cost of treatment in Belfast."
In December, Dr Khan had threatened to leave the Royal following a row over funding for his unit. According to Mr Keyes, he was then given assurances that extra money would be found. Equipment promised then has since failed to materialise and the doctor has been informed it could be April, the beginning of the new financial year, before extra funds begin to flow.
Mr Keyes said: "At present there are nine patients in the burns ward and when they go then the unit will close. There are also 600 on the waiting list and that will then be extended.
"It took just 17 minutes to transport Donna-Marie to Belfast after doctors treating her at Tyrone County gave her a 20 per cent chance of life. If she had to be taken to England she would not have survived at all.
"I believe the people at the Royal Hospital Trust have been economical with the truth concerning what they are telling us about funding. They have not provided one thing to reassure me that anything is being done to alleviate the situation," he added.
A spokesperson for the Royal said every effort had been made to accommodate Dr Khan's requests and the Director of Medicine, Dr Ian Carson had 'bent over back-wards' to facilitate the surgeon.
The Royal had understood that Dr Khan would be undertaking a split role between the City and Royal hospitals, she added.
The spokesperson continued: "All of the equipment requested has been ordered.
However, some of the very expensive equipment has to go through our purchasing guidelines and seek quotations. These have now been sought and have been ordered and will be delivered within the month."
"Dr Khan verbally accepted a position at the City Hospital to start on February 1st and on this understanding we advertised for another locum consultant. We have had one applicant who we hope to have interviewed and in place very shortly. "We will make sure that patients requiring emergency burns treatment will be dealt with as soon as possible."
The departure of Dr Khan would not lead to the closure of the burns unit, the spokesperson added.
BY JOHNMcCUSKER
Families call for resignation of Trust chief
THE father of a victim of the Omagh bombing has called for the resignation of a Belfast hospital chief following the departure this week of a top Belfast-based burns surgeon.
Malachy Keyes whose daughter Donna-Marie suffered 55 per cent burns in the 1998 attack has claimed bosses at the Royal Victoria Hospital have been economical with the truth as regards funding for its specialist burns unit.
His comments follow the departure yesterday of Dr Khalid Khan who quit his post just weeks after being promised extra monies to help sustain the unit.
Mr Keyes has now called on the Royal's Director of Medicine, Dr Ian Carson to stand down after accusing him of reneging on earlier promises to boost funding for the burns surgeon and his team.
The Royal, however, has claimed it has done everything possible to keep the plastic surgeon and promised that equipment requested by Dr Khan was already on its way.
Mr Keyes, Donna Marie and her husband Garry McGillion travelled to Belfast on Monday to speak to Dr Khan about setting up a charity to help raise �70,000 which is required to upgrade the burns division.
Donna Marie and Garry had been shopping in Market Street a week before their wedding along with Garry's sister, Tracey and Tracey's 21-month-old daughter Breda. The youngster died in the blast, while the three adults suffered extensive burns.
Mr McGillion was due to go into hospital next week for further surgery to increase mobility in his arm. That appointment has now been cancelled.
Mr Keyes said: "We were totally shocked when the doctor informed us he was leaving on Wednesday to take up a post in Nottingham.
"He was one of the few surgeons we had come across who were patient-orientated as opposed to money orientated,
"As a result of his departure we are now left in a situation where anyone who suffers extensive burns will have to travel to England for treatment, a move which will cost ten times the cost of treatment in Belfast."
In December, Dr Khan had threatened to leave the Royal following a row over funding for his unit. According to Mr Keyes, he was then given assurances that extra money would be found. Equipment promised then has since failed to materialise and the doctor has been informed it could be April, the beginning of the new financial year, before extra funds begin to flow.
Mr Keyes said: "At present there are nine patients in the burns ward and when they go then the unit will close. There are also 600 on the waiting list and that will then be extended.
"It took just 17 minutes to transport Donna-Marie to Belfast after doctors treating her at Tyrone County gave her a 20 per cent chance of life. If she had to be taken to England she would not have survived at all.
"I believe the people at the Royal Hospital Trust have been economical with the truth concerning what they are telling us about funding. They have not provided one thing to reassure me that anything is being done to alleviate the situation," he added.
A spokesperson for the Royal said every effort had been made to accommodate Dr Khan's requests and the Director of Medicine, Dr Ian Carson had 'bent over back-wards' to facilitate the surgeon.
The Royal had understood that Dr Khan would be undertaking a split role between the City and Royal hospitals, she added.
The spokesperson continued: "All of the equipment requested has been ordered.
However, some of the very expensive equipment has to go through our purchasing guidelines and seek quotations. These have now been sought and have been ordered and will be delivered within the month."
"Dr Khan verbally accepted a position at the City Hospital to start on February 1st and on this understanding we advertised for another locum consultant. We have had one applicant who we hope to have interviewed and in place very shortly. "We will make sure that patients requiring emergency burns treatment will be dealt with as soon as possible."
The departure of Dr Khan would not lead to the closure of the burns unit, the spokesperson added.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0734
Published Date: 01-Feb-01
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