HOSPITAL STAFF BEGIN PROTEST CAMPAIGN
Hospital staff begin protest campaign
BY ADRIAN MULLAN
MP commits himself to hospital fight
West-Tyrone MP, Pat Doherty, was confronted by protestors and the husband of a victim of the Omagh bomb when he paid a fact-finding visit to the Tyrone County Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
As Mr Doherty was led through the corridors of the hospital by the Chief Executive of the Sperrin Lakeland Trust, Hugh Mills, dozens of members of staff carrying placards pursued him
Mr Doherty asserted that it was his intention to fight for and to save acute services, after which the mood toward him warmed somewhat. However, given that Mr Doherty's party colleague Bairbre de Brun set up the review in the first place and given that the final decision on the future of the hospital will rest with her, Mr Doherty, was the subject of some questioning by campaigners who wanted assurances on the future of the services.
One of the leaders of the protestors, nurse Olive Wylie, said the staff at the County Hospital have been made to feel like second class citizens and asked Mr Doherty what he intended to do about it.
Mr Doherty replied, "That's exactly why I'm here today. We've had a discussion that we need in Co.Tyrone as broad a base to this campaign as possible to save this hospital. Yesterday we started that by asking Minister de Brun, in the Assembly, first of all how long will the consultation take, how do we access the consultation process and then when and how are the decisions made at the end of the process. What we have to do now is make a sustainable case that this hospital cannot only be saved but upgraded and this is the start of it. It is a big task but we have the collective ability to do it and that's what I intend to do, to be part of that team or that grouping."
He said it was vital that those who want to save services approach it professionally, "That's where we need your help, because this has to involve professionals, politicians, the community. I think we can win this battle. I think we have to win this battle. It's inconceivable that we would lose this battle. We are absolutely committed to upgrading and saving this hospital."
He said that he had been speaking to theTaoiseach and the First Minister who said that in the next fifteen years the population of Ireland could be ten million.
"We have to plan to look after the health of those people and the planning should start now. In summary, you have my absolute and total commitment and the absolute and total commitment of my party and, I believe, all of the other parties as well."
Newly elected Ulster Unionist Councillor, Bert Wilson, described the situation affecting the hospital as disastrous and said it cannot be accepted.
A member of staff asked Mr Doherty what he would do in relation to the closure of wards 7 and 8 and the ensuing loss of jobs. The West Tyrone MP said he intended to meet the Minister and to raise the mater of the ward closures with her. One protestor reminded him that he only had until Monday to save the two wards.
Following his discussion with nurses and medical staff as to the need for a well organised campaign to save acute services, the West Tyrone MP had a 45 minute meeting with a number of consultants whom he said are not happy with the Hayes' findings. The consultant will give the MP a position paper following their deliberations and he is to give them a copy of Sinn Fein's submission to the Minister.
Joining Mr Doherty on his visit was the newly elected Chairman of Omagh District Council, Barry McElduff.
BY ADRIAN MULLAN
MP commits himself to hospital fight
West-Tyrone MP, Pat Doherty, was confronted by protestors and the husband of a victim of the Omagh bomb when he paid a fact-finding visit to the Tyrone County Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
As Mr Doherty was led through the corridors of the hospital by the Chief Executive of the Sperrin Lakeland Trust, Hugh Mills, dozens of members of staff carrying placards pursued him
Mr Doherty asserted that it was his intention to fight for and to save acute services, after which the mood toward him warmed somewhat. However, given that Mr Doherty's party colleague Bairbre de Brun set up the review in the first place and given that the final decision on the future of the hospital will rest with her, Mr Doherty, was the subject of some questioning by campaigners who wanted assurances on the future of the services.
One of the leaders of the protestors, nurse Olive Wylie, said the staff at the County Hospital have been made to feel like second class citizens and asked Mr Doherty what he intended to do about it.
Mr Doherty replied, "That's exactly why I'm here today. We've had a discussion that we need in Co.Tyrone as broad a base to this campaign as possible to save this hospital. Yesterday we started that by asking Minister de Brun, in the Assembly, first of all how long will the consultation take, how do we access the consultation process and then when and how are the decisions made at the end of the process. What we have to do now is make a sustainable case that this hospital cannot only be saved but upgraded and this is the start of it. It is a big task but we have the collective ability to do it and that's what I intend to do, to be part of that team or that grouping."
He said it was vital that those who want to save services approach it professionally, "That's where we need your help, because this has to involve professionals, politicians, the community. I think we can win this battle. I think we have to win this battle. It's inconceivable that we would lose this battle. We are absolutely committed to upgrading and saving this hospital."
He said that he had been speaking to theTaoiseach and the First Minister who said that in the next fifteen years the population of Ireland could be ten million.
"We have to plan to look after the health of those people and the planning should start now. In summary, you have my absolute and total commitment and the absolute and total commitment of my party and, I believe, all of the other parties as well."
Newly elected Ulster Unionist Councillor, Bert Wilson, described the situation affecting the hospital as disastrous and said it cannot be accepted.
A member of staff asked Mr Doherty what he would do in relation to the closure of wards 7 and 8 and the ensuing loss of jobs. The West Tyrone MP said he intended to meet the Minister and to raise the mater of the ward closures with her. One protestor reminded him that he only had until Monday to save the two wards.
Following his discussion with nurses and medical staff as to the need for a well organised campaign to save acute services, the West Tyrone MP had a 45 minute meeting with a number of consultants whom he said are not happy with the Hayes' findings. The consultant will give the MP a position paper following their deliberations and he is to give them a copy of Sinn Fein's submission to the Minister.
Joining Mr Doherty on his visit was the newly elected Chairman of Omagh District Council, Barry McElduff.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0779
Published Date: 28-Jun-01
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