CASH INJECTION FOR OMAGH TRAUMA SERVICES
Cash injection for Omagh trauma services
BY: ADRIAN MULLAN
Minister 'Gives a day to Omagh'
OMAGH is to get an additional �2.3 million to help deal with the aftermath of the Market Street bomb, it was announced this week.
Making public the package on a his visit to the town on Monday, Health Minister, John McFall, explained that two million was earmarked for health and personal social services, with the remaining one third of a million to go to education. It is thought that this funding follows Dr. Mowlam's request, some time ago, for details of the costs to, Health and Personal Social Services following the atrocity
The announcement was made during a special visit to the town during which Minister McFall expressed his wish to 'give a day to Omagh'. During the visit he met with staff in the DHSS, the Job Market, and the Tyrone County Hospital, and he held a private meeting with some of the relatives of people killed in the bomb.
Speaking at the Trauma Centre, following a visit to the Tyrone County Hospital, he said "I have been very impressed by the positive and comprehensive manner in which the Trust and the Western Heath and Social Services Board have addressed this complex issue and the imaginative schemes developed by the Trust to assist and support victims, their relatives and staff employed by the Trust.
"It is only when one sees these detailed plans that the long term effects of such events are forcibly driven home. Unless this additional funding were made available, it is inevitable that other deserving patients would remain longer on .waiting lists and that the delivery of community services would be restricted."
Local hospital campaigner, Gerry O'Doherty, confronted the minister on what he believes are plans to concentrate future resources on the so-called 'Golden Six' hospitals in the North East.
Mr O'Doherty said "Some years ago, I had the misfortune of suffering a heart attack, and travelled seven miles to this hospital and just made it here on time I would like to know how you can justify pushing the local health board to choose between Omagh and Enniskillen for accident and emergency services, when I know that there are hundreds, if not thousands of people, who live locally to both hospitals who could not withstand a long journey in circumstances similar to mine."
The Minister replied saying that his was a 'vision' document for the future of health services, that will ensure that wherever anyone was in NI, had access to the same level of expert care. He said that with sixteen acute hospitals in Northern Ireland at the moment that people weren't getting the best care. He added that he was injecting some �15m into the Ambulance Service to ensure that the 'rural issue' was considered, he further said that the document provided a 'model of care for the future.'
Asked about the possibility of an air ambulance for Omagh he said that it was the responsibility of the Assembly to work along with the community and that the issue should be discussed locally.
The Sperrin Lakeland Trust welcomed the funding, its Chief Executive, Hugh Mills commented "The funding will meet costs for hospital, ambulance, community and voluntary services provided across Northern Ireland.
Whilst he acknowledged that the money could do little to diminish the personal losses many families had suffered, he said the money enables the Trust to meet the additional costs for establishing psychological support for the community, requirements for those disabled or disfigured, rehabilitation services e.g. physio and occupational therapy and home based respite care.
Local Councillor, Pat McDonnell had a meeting with the Minister, which was kept private on the insistence of the Northern Ireland Office. Afterwards, Cllr McDonnell said there had not been a meeting of minds.
"I pointed out the geographic significance of Omagh and the absolute necessity for a fully equipped acute hospital in the South West of Northern Ireland. I pointed out that Omagh was the natural location for such a hospital...I disagreed with the Minister's analysis which is based on the East of the Bann 'Golden Six' concept."
Mr McDonnell went on to say that he was unimpressed with the Minister's failure to give assurances about the future of the Tyrone County Hospital. "I cannot help but recall a local councillor as going on record and pinning his faith on John McFall a few weeks ago."
Cllr McDonnell concluded "Omagh must speak with one voice, and it is time that voice was heard."
SDLP Assemblyman, Joe Byrne, welcomed the announcement of the money and said he hoped it would be used to ensure that the victims, and their families receive ongoing help to enable them to deal with the long term effects of 'such a dreadful event'.
After the Minister had discharged his official duties he went on to give a day to Omagh in the ordinary sense of the word in that he went into the town for some Christmas shopping.
BY: ADRIAN MULLAN
Minister 'Gives a day to Omagh'
OMAGH is to get an additional �2.3 million to help deal with the aftermath of the Market Street bomb, it was announced this week.
Making public the package on a his visit to the town on Monday, Health Minister, John McFall, explained that two million was earmarked for health and personal social services, with the remaining one third of a million to go to education. It is thought that this funding follows Dr. Mowlam's request, some time ago, for details of the costs to, Health and Personal Social Services following the atrocity
The announcement was made during a special visit to the town during which Minister McFall expressed his wish to 'give a day to Omagh'. During the visit he met with staff in the DHSS, the Job Market, and the Tyrone County Hospital, and he held a private meeting with some of the relatives of people killed in the bomb.
Speaking at the Trauma Centre, following a visit to the Tyrone County Hospital, he said "I have been very impressed by the positive and comprehensive manner in which the Trust and the Western Heath and Social Services Board have addressed this complex issue and the imaginative schemes developed by the Trust to assist and support victims, their relatives and staff employed by the Trust.
"It is only when one sees these detailed plans that the long term effects of such events are forcibly driven home. Unless this additional funding were made available, it is inevitable that other deserving patients would remain longer on .waiting lists and that the delivery of community services would be restricted."
Local hospital campaigner, Gerry O'Doherty, confronted the minister on what he believes are plans to concentrate future resources on the so-called 'Golden Six' hospitals in the North East.
Mr O'Doherty said "Some years ago, I had the misfortune of suffering a heart attack, and travelled seven miles to this hospital and just made it here on time I would like to know how you can justify pushing the local health board to choose between Omagh and Enniskillen for accident and emergency services, when I know that there are hundreds, if not thousands of people, who live locally to both hospitals who could not withstand a long journey in circumstances similar to mine."
The Minister replied saying that his was a 'vision' document for the future of health services, that will ensure that wherever anyone was in NI, had access to the same level of expert care. He said that with sixteen acute hospitals in Northern Ireland at the moment that people weren't getting the best care. He added that he was injecting some �15m into the Ambulance Service to ensure that the 'rural issue' was considered, he further said that the document provided a 'model of care for the future.'
Asked about the possibility of an air ambulance for Omagh he said that it was the responsibility of the Assembly to work along with the community and that the issue should be discussed locally.
The Sperrin Lakeland Trust welcomed the funding, its Chief Executive, Hugh Mills commented "The funding will meet costs for hospital, ambulance, community and voluntary services provided across Northern Ireland.
Whilst he acknowledged that the money could do little to diminish the personal losses many families had suffered, he said the money enables the Trust to meet the additional costs for establishing psychological support for the community, requirements for those disabled or disfigured, rehabilitation services e.g. physio and occupational therapy and home based respite care.
Local Councillor, Pat McDonnell had a meeting with the Minister, which was kept private on the insistence of the Northern Ireland Office. Afterwards, Cllr McDonnell said there had not been a meeting of minds.
"I pointed out the geographic significance of Omagh and the absolute necessity for a fully equipped acute hospital in the South West of Northern Ireland. I pointed out that Omagh was the natural location for such a hospital...I disagreed with the Minister's analysis which is based on the East of the Bann 'Golden Six' concept."
Mr McDonnell went on to say that he was unimpressed with the Minister's failure to give assurances about the future of the Tyrone County Hospital. "I cannot help but recall a local councillor as going on record and pinning his faith on John McFall a few weeks ago."
Cllr McDonnell concluded "Omagh must speak with one voice, and it is time that voice was heard."
SDLP Assemblyman, Joe Byrne, welcomed the announcement of the money and said he hoped it would be used to ensure that the victims, and their families receive ongoing help to enable them to deal with the long term effects of 'such a dreadful event'.
After the Minister had discharged his official duties he went on to give a day to Omagh in the ordinary sense of the word in that he went into the town for some Christmas shopping.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1726
Published Date: 24-Dec-98
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