UH/1167

Health care bill for bomb stands at £2.5m
BY: MICHELE CANNING

THE Secretary of State Dr Mo Mowlam is currently considering the £2.5 million "Recovery Plan" for the treatment of those injured in the Omagh bombing.
The health care bill for the treatment of the 382 people physically injured, and the hundreds mentally traumatised, by the 5001b car bomb explosion, is expected to reach a staggering £2.5 million.
The multi-million pound bill relates only to short-medium term care. It sets out the costs that have already been incurred and the expected costs of care up until the end of March 1999 to the Trust and hospitals in other parts of the North.
It does not include long term care, the cost of which is currently difficult to anticipate, nor does it include the cost of prescriptions.
A cash injection to help alleviate the burden on hospitals and care centres across the Six Counties is expected from the British government, but that has not yet been officially confirmed.
West Tyrone assemblyman, Oliver Gibson, has called on the government to ensure that any financial assistance towards the massive costing will be over and above any budget allocation.
It has been revealed that almost £1 million has already been spent on immediate response and hospital care after the Omagh bombing.
Over £350,000 has been earmarked for the creation of the Community Trauma Team and Recovery Team, and staff support arrangements.
Both teams, which have already been established, will encompass social workers, psychologists, nurses, therapists, occupational therapists and administration support.
£100,000 has been committed to improve rehabilitation facilities. The Trust's physiotherapy and occupational therapy services are already under pressure as patients return for treatment.
Over 60 of the injured have significant injuries and will require care for some time.
The rehabilitation centre will be based at Omagh, and attached to or within the Tyrone County Hospital.
The remaining £1.5 million is needed for trauma and medium term hospital and community care, psychology services, voluntary organisations and will also help to cover staff absences as a result of the bombing.
The £2.5 million will be ploughed into what is known as the "Recovery Plan", a report drawn up by the Trust's Director of Finance and senior Western Health Board officers.
The plan, requested by Dr Mo Mowlam, is currently being considered and it is hoped that financial assistance will be forthcoming from the government.
The report has identified the requirements needed for the immediate response and short-to-medium term care across the North for acute hospitals, ambulance and community health and social services.
Hugh Mills, Trust Chief Executive, outlined the financial implications for health and social services right across the North arising from the Omagh bomb.
He said the Recovery Plan does not include the additional medication prescribed by GPs as it had been difficult to estimate.
The Trust is still preparing the implications for the longer term.
Mr Mills said "We expect the longer term costs to be significant as some of the injured will require comprehensive packages of care in their own homes for many months, and possibly years."
He also highlighted the need to establish psychological support for the Omagh community.
"Many people were involved in the incident. Although they were not physically injured they were affected and many in the wider community are distressed."
The Chief Executive said the Trust's response strategy is one which recognises the significant strengths of the Omagh community and will not intervene in ways which undermine those strengths.
The emphasis, he said, is on facilitating the process of coping and recovery and avoiding unnecessary medicalisation of these difficulties.
"Should problems persist in the long-term these will be identified and referred for appropriate professional assessment and treatment."