TRUST BOSS GRILLED BY ANGRY PROTESTORS
Trust boss grilled by angry protestors
IN scenes reminiscent to the Prime Minister being harangued by patients in the run up to the general election, the Chief Executive of the Sperrin Lakeland Trust, Hugh Mills, faced hostile protests from staff and hospital campaigners whilst accompanying Pat Doherty MP on a tour of the Tyrone County Hospital on Tuesday. Several people, including Lawrence Rush, husband of Libby, who died in the Omagh bomb, unsuccessful Council candidate, Kevin Taylor, and nursing and union representatives put questions to Mr Mills as the 'tour' came to a halt in the corridor leading to Ward 4.
Nurse Paula Quinn questioned Mr Mills about the future of the staff who manned Wards 7 and 8 (due to close next week) and asked: "Why, when the budget has to be tightened, is it always junior staff and the patients who are affected?"
Mr Mills said the Trust felt that budgetary constraints affected 'the whole range of services' and said efficiency savings were taken out of a range of support services. He added that budgets in terms of travelling and administration are examined in such circumstances.
He rejected the use of the term redundancy, preferring instead to say that those affected by the closures were, "Temporary staff on fixed term contracts,"
Nurse Quinn put it to Mr Mills that the morale of the staff was at a low ebb and that occupancy in the hospital was 'sky high'. The Chief Executive said that it was not the Trust's wish to close the beds but that the funds were not available to keep them open."
Kevin Taylor put it to Mr Mills that he was told by the Acute services Manager of the Trust that he would have to wait one year for for an appointment with a neurologist in Belfast.
"Surely you are not that badly in need of funds that you can't afford a phone call from Omagh to Belfast," he said.
Mr Mills originally said he wasn't going to answer questions about specific cases but on further badgering by Taylor commented, "Those issues should be put forward by your GP to your consultant. The consultant decides who to see first in terms of clinical need... I will ask the consultant to review your needs."
Lawrence Rush interceded, "What is your role Mr Mills? You are telling these people about closing down two wards and you can't tell them if it's temporary or permanent. Enniskillen has been told it's a temporary move, here it's not."
IN scenes reminiscent to the Prime Minister being harangued by patients in the run up to the general election, the Chief Executive of the Sperrin Lakeland Trust, Hugh Mills, faced hostile protests from staff and hospital campaigners whilst accompanying Pat Doherty MP on a tour of the Tyrone County Hospital on Tuesday. Several people, including Lawrence Rush, husband of Libby, who died in the Omagh bomb, unsuccessful Council candidate, Kevin Taylor, and nursing and union representatives put questions to Mr Mills as the 'tour' came to a halt in the corridor leading to Ward 4.
Nurse Paula Quinn questioned Mr Mills about the future of the staff who manned Wards 7 and 8 (due to close next week) and asked: "Why, when the budget has to be tightened, is it always junior staff and the patients who are affected?"
Mr Mills said the Trust felt that budgetary constraints affected 'the whole range of services' and said efficiency savings were taken out of a range of support services. He added that budgets in terms of travelling and administration are examined in such circumstances.
He rejected the use of the term redundancy, preferring instead to say that those affected by the closures were, "Temporary staff on fixed term contracts,"
Nurse Quinn put it to Mr Mills that the morale of the staff was at a low ebb and that occupancy in the hospital was 'sky high'. The Chief Executive said that it was not the Trust's wish to close the beds but that the funds were not available to keep them open."
Kevin Taylor put it to Mr Mills that he was told by the Acute services Manager of the Trust that he would have to wait one year for for an appointment with a neurologist in Belfast.
"Surely you are not that badly in need of funds that you can't afford a phone call from Omagh to Belfast," he said.
Mr Mills originally said he wasn't going to answer questions about specific cases but on further badgering by Taylor commented, "Those issues should be put forward by your GP to your consultant. The consultant decides who to see first in terms of clinical need... I will ask the consultant to review your needs."
Lawrence Rush interceded, "What is your role Mr Mills? You are telling these people about closing down two wards and you can't tell them if it's temporary or permanent. Enniskillen has been told it's a temporary move, here it's not."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0780
Published Date: 28-Jun-01
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