TRAUMA EXPERTS HELP US VICTIMS OF ATTACK
Trauma experts help US victims of attack
BY JACQUELINE COURTNEY
THE trauma team, which assisted in the aftermath of the Omagh bomb, continues to provide support to colleagues in America since the September 11 catastrophe.
The US onslaught sent shock-waves through Omagh and district and resulted in a number of local people referred to the Trauma Centre for the first time.
Speaking this week about the links, Hugh Mills, Chief Executive of Sperrin Lakeland Trust said the assistance had been provided through a number of professional channels.
The advent of modern communication technology has enabled the Trust to work with colleagues over long distances without actually leaving the country.
"Using telephone, video conference and email communications, we have been able to share a lot of what we have learned from the Omagh bomb," said Mr Mills.
One of the Omagh experts, Dr Kate Gillespie has been invited to join a special taskforce established by the Academy of Cognitive Therapy to help plan and prepare for the longer term therapeutic response to the American tragedies.
Staff from the team are currently preparing training materials for American colleagues.
Prior to the Omagh bomb, Dr Gillespie had forged links with a number of centres in relation to therapeutic training. After August 1998 these contacts were quick to offer help to the Trauma Team in whatever way they could.
"When the tragedies happened in the USA we were glad to return the generosity of American colleagues and offer what we have learned through the experience of helping people affected by the Omagh bombing," said Mr Mills.
There is a lot of expertise on the ground in the USA and the Trust aims to support that expertise. Discussions have taken place about the possibilities of staff travelling to the USA.
"We are willing to send staff to support colleagues there, by sharing our experiences and to help with training," added Mr.Mills.
Dr Michael Duffy, Head of Omagh Trauma Centre, which was set up after the Omagh bomb, said experts were still dealing with the emotional and psychological impact of that day.
The terrorist attack on New York had sent shock-waves through Omagh.
"Delayed onset of post-traumatic stress disorder can be set off by a subsequent dramatic event. We have had people referred for the first time who were holding themselves together but for them the New York incident was the final straw," added Mr Duffy
He warned that with the scale of what happened in New York there is a danger that the emergency services could be overwhelmed unless they use the time now to train up staff and set up accessible walk-in facilities.
BY JACQUELINE COURTNEY
THE trauma team, which assisted in the aftermath of the Omagh bomb, continues to provide support to colleagues in America since the September 11 catastrophe.
The US onslaught sent shock-waves through Omagh and district and resulted in a number of local people referred to the Trauma Centre for the first time.
Speaking this week about the links, Hugh Mills, Chief Executive of Sperrin Lakeland Trust said the assistance had been provided through a number of professional channels.
The advent of modern communication technology has enabled the Trust to work with colleagues over long distances without actually leaving the country.
"Using telephone, video conference and email communications, we have been able to share a lot of what we have learned from the Omagh bomb," said Mr Mills.
One of the Omagh experts, Dr Kate Gillespie has been invited to join a special taskforce established by the Academy of Cognitive Therapy to help plan and prepare for the longer term therapeutic response to the American tragedies.
Staff from the team are currently preparing training materials for American colleagues.
Prior to the Omagh bomb, Dr Gillespie had forged links with a number of centres in relation to therapeutic training. After August 1998 these contacts were quick to offer help to the Trauma Team in whatever way they could.
"When the tragedies happened in the USA we were glad to return the generosity of American colleagues and offer what we have learned through the experience of helping people affected by the Omagh bombing," said Mr Mills.
There is a lot of expertise on the ground in the USA and the Trust aims to support that expertise. Discussions have taken place about the possibilities of staff travelling to the USA.
"We are willing to send staff to support colleagues there, by sharing our experiences and to help with training," added Mr.Mills.
Dr Michael Duffy, Head of Omagh Trauma Centre, which was set up after the Omagh bomb, said experts were still dealing with the emotional and psychological impact of that day.
The terrorist attack on New York had sent shock-waves through Omagh.
"Delayed onset of post-traumatic stress disorder can be set off by a subsequent dramatic event. We have had people referred for the first time who were holding themselves together but for them the New York incident was the final straw," added Mr Duffy
He warned that with the scale of what happened in New York there is a danger that the emergency services could be overwhelmed unless they use the time now to train up staff and set up accessible walk-in facilities.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0852
Published Date: 18-Oct-01
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