TYRONE COUNTY HOSPITAL SET TO BE SCALED DOWN
Tyrone County Hospital set to be scaled down
BY JACQUELINE COURTNEY
We must fight to the bitter end warns Donna
THE young Omagh woman who owes her life to the Tyrone County Hospital spoke yesterday morning of her horror and disbelief at the shocking news which was unfolding.
Donna-Marie McGillion, who was badly injured in the Market Street blast of 98, was supported by her mum Patricia Keys, as they called for support from the people of Omagh 'not to allow this to happen'.
Unfortunately Donna-Marie is just one of dozens of victims of the bomb who may not have survived had the hospital then been ripped of its acute status.
The hospital, which holds a special place in countless thousands of homes in the district, now faces its worst crisis ever.
But Donna-Marie is determined that the County to which she owes her life will not become a major victim of a cost saving exercise.
"The staff at the County gave me a 20 per cent chance of survival and I owe my life to the hospital and to the dedicated staff," she said.
"Another 78 people could have died as a result of the bomb if the Tyrone County Hospital had not been there," added her mother.
"So many people owe so much to the County and its dedicated staff and I don't think this is the way it should be repaid. It coped brilliantly after the bomb and I wonder would any other hospital have coped as well in the face of such a largescale emergency?"
But one thing is crystal clear Donna-Marie would not be alive today had it not been for the close proximity of the location of the hospital.
"This cannot happen. We will not allow this tragedy to happen but it is up to every household in Omagh and district to make their opposition known," said an angry Donna-Marie.
Numbed by the news, the two ladies admitted they were still trying to come to terms with the impact of the Hayes recommendations.
They vowed to fight on to the bitter end and appealed to local elected representatives to now "show their worth".
"This is news we were not expecting. We cannot give up the fight. The people of Omagh can sit back no longer. They stripped the hospital of its maternity service and paediatrics and we have to stop further demoralisation of our hospital. It deserves better. People have to come out and save our hospital," said the campaigners.
"We must remember these are only recommendations. We fought to retain the burn specialist and won. We can do it again with the support of the people and our elected representatives," said a very determined Donna-Marie.
Her mum continued "We have to make our voices heard. We can't let them get away with this. We need to unite and start a united protest."
Both ladies asked 'How can you put a value on someone's life, no matter where they live, and that is what is happening here. It is wrong to divide communities, like Omagh and Enniskillen. Both areas need their acute hospitals particularly with the disastrous road infrastructure between both counties."
THE new President of Omagh Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Tom McElholm said yesterday morning he was numbed by the news which had broke.
He said "I am extremely disappointed this morning." Past president, Billy Reilly said the news was horrendous for Omagh.
He called on the newly elected West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty to put what ever pressure he had to ensure the decision was reversed.
He said this was in view of what Mr Doherty had said at the Chamber's annual general meeting last week.
Omagh, he added, was a town which had a long history of having hospitals centred in the area and the news, breaking that morning was disastrous.
BY JACQUELINE COURTNEY
We must fight to the bitter end warns Donna
THE young Omagh woman who owes her life to the Tyrone County Hospital spoke yesterday morning of her horror and disbelief at the shocking news which was unfolding.
Donna-Marie McGillion, who was badly injured in the Market Street blast of 98, was supported by her mum Patricia Keys, as they called for support from the people of Omagh 'not to allow this to happen'.
Unfortunately Donna-Marie is just one of dozens of victims of the bomb who may not have survived had the hospital then been ripped of its acute status.
The hospital, which holds a special place in countless thousands of homes in the district, now faces its worst crisis ever.
But Donna-Marie is determined that the County to which she owes her life will not become a major victim of a cost saving exercise.
"The staff at the County gave me a 20 per cent chance of survival and I owe my life to the hospital and to the dedicated staff," she said.
"Another 78 people could have died as a result of the bomb if the Tyrone County Hospital had not been there," added her mother.
"So many people owe so much to the County and its dedicated staff and I don't think this is the way it should be repaid. It coped brilliantly after the bomb and I wonder would any other hospital have coped as well in the face of such a largescale emergency?"
But one thing is crystal clear Donna-Marie would not be alive today had it not been for the close proximity of the location of the hospital.
"This cannot happen. We will not allow this tragedy to happen but it is up to every household in Omagh and district to make their opposition known," said an angry Donna-Marie.
Numbed by the news, the two ladies admitted they were still trying to come to terms with the impact of the Hayes recommendations.
They vowed to fight on to the bitter end and appealed to local elected representatives to now "show their worth".
"This is news we were not expecting. We cannot give up the fight. The people of Omagh can sit back no longer. They stripped the hospital of its maternity service and paediatrics and we have to stop further demoralisation of our hospital. It deserves better. People have to come out and save our hospital," said the campaigners.
"We must remember these are only recommendations. We fought to retain the burn specialist and won. We can do it again with the support of the people and our elected representatives," said a very determined Donna-Marie.
Her mum continued "We have to make our voices heard. We can't let them get away with this. We need to unite and start a united protest."
Both ladies asked 'How can you put a value on someone's life, no matter where they live, and that is what is happening here. It is wrong to divide communities, like Omagh and Enniskillen. Both areas need their acute hospitals particularly with the disastrous road infrastructure between both counties."
THE new President of Omagh Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Tom McElholm said yesterday morning he was numbed by the news which had broke.
He said "I am extremely disappointed this morning." Past president, Billy Reilly said the news was horrendous for Omagh.
He called on the newly elected West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty to put what ever pressure he had to ensure the decision was reversed.
He said this was in view of what Mr Doherty had said at the Chamber's annual general meeting last week.
Omagh, he added, was a town which had a long history of having hospitals centred in the area and the news, breaking that morning was disastrous.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0777
Published Date: 21-Jun-01
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