TRAUMA TEAMS WORKLOAD INCREASES
Trauma team's workload increases
UP TO 50 telephone calls a day are being made to the trauma team set up by the Sperrin Lakeland Trust in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing.
Revealing the figures last week, Michael Duffy, co-ordinator of the Trust's Community Trauma and Recovery Team, said that they highlighted the need to provide ongoing support to those who have been bereaved, injured and distressed by the August 15 blast.
Established within days of the blast, the team plays a key part in ensuring that local people can access as quickly as possible the service provided by the Trust.
Mr Duffy said "The Community Trauma and Recovery Team is receiving up to 50 telephone calls per day. Much of the work is handled by telephone with a number of people calling each day to visit the centre in High Street."
Part of the work of the team also involves making house visits and providing individual counselling and therapy sessions.
"Up to the end of September we have undertaken 105 home visits and 193 counselling/therapy sessions" Mr Duffy added.
The team operates within the overall strategy that informs and leads the Trust's response to the Omagh bombing.
"We wish to facilitate the process of coping and recovery. The Omagh community has significant strengths and we do not wish to go in and intervene in ways which undermine those strengths.
"Our approach also avoids any unnecessary medicalisation of the distress people have been experiencing. In the longer term should problems persist, we will refer those affected for specialised assessment and treatment" Mr Duffy added.
The work of the team has included the co-ordination of work with voluntary groups and the provision of awareness training for staff, local community and voluntary groups workers and the clergy.
The team consist of eight permanent members of staff supported by other professionals on a sessional basis. The staff involved include social workers, community psychiatric nurses, occupational therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist, cognitive behaviour therapist, art therapist, bereavement counsellor, suicide awareness nurse and administrative support.
The team has been receiving a significant numbers of offers of help and assistance. These include offers of transport to take relatives to hospitals in Belfast and Derry, accommodation for relatives and holidays for the injured or relatives of the bereaved.
The Trust has posted information bulletins to those who have been affected by the bombing advising them of the services provided by the Community Trauma Team. The bulletins have also provided advice on the role and method of contact with the Compensation Agency and
information on the Omagh Fund.
David Bolton, Director of Community Care, who established the team spoke of the task in releasing staff to support the work.
"From Saturday, August 15th, we have had a group of staff working with those who have been bereaved, injured and distressed. At the same time we have endeavoured to maintain our normal services to the wider community.
"Our staff have found time and time again, that many of those who were not directly involved, needed time to talk about the bombing and its
consequences."
The telephone number for anyone wishing to contact the team remains 01662 252599.
UP TO 50 telephone calls a day are being made to the trauma team set up by the Sperrin Lakeland Trust in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing.
Revealing the figures last week, Michael Duffy, co-ordinator of the Trust's Community Trauma and Recovery Team, said that they highlighted the need to provide ongoing support to those who have been bereaved, injured and distressed by the August 15 blast.
Established within days of the blast, the team plays a key part in ensuring that local people can access as quickly as possible the service provided by the Trust.
Mr Duffy said "The Community Trauma and Recovery Team is receiving up to 50 telephone calls per day. Much of the work is handled by telephone with a number of people calling each day to visit the centre in High Street."
Part of the work of the team also involves making house visits and providing individual counselling and therapy sessions.
"Up to the end of September we have undertaken 105 home visits and 193 counselling/therapy sessions" Mr Duffy added.
The team operates within the overall strategy that informs and leads the Trust's response to the Omagh bombing.
"We wish to facilitate the process of coping and recovery. The Omagh community has significant strengths and we do not wish to go in and intervene in ways which undermine those strengths.
"Our approach also avoids any unnecessary medicalisation of the distress people have been experiencing. In the longer term should problems persist, we will refer those affected for specialised assessment and treatment" Mr Duffy added.
The work of the team has included the co-ordination of work with voluntary groups and the provision of awareness training for staff, local community and voluntary groups workers and the clergy.
The team consist of eight permanent members of staff supported by other professionals on a sessional basis. The staff involved include social workers, community psychiatric nurses, occupational therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist, cognitive behaviour therapist, art therapist, bereavement counsellor, suicide awareness nurse and administrative support.
The team has been receiving a significant numbers of offers of help and assistance. These include offers of transport to take relatives to hospitals in Belfast and Derry, accommodation for relatives and holidays for the injured or relatives of the bereaved.
The Trust has posted information bulletins to those who have been affected by the bombing advising them of the services provided by the Community Trauma Team. The bulletins have also provided advice on the role and method of contact with the Compensation Agency and
information on the Omagh Fund.
David Bolton, Director of Community Care, who established the team spoke of the task in releasing staff to support the work.
"From Saturday, August 15th, we have had a group of staff working with those who have been bereaved, injured and distressed. At the same time we have endeavoured to maintain our normal services to the wider community.
"Our staff have found time and time again, that many of those who were not directly involved, needed time to talk about the bombing and its
consequences."
The telephone number for anyone wishing to contact the team remains 01662 252599.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1204
Published Date: 15-Oct-98
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