The continuing problems being caused to Omagh families by the removal of the tonsillectomy service for children from the Tyrone County Hospital were highlighted once again this week by local Hospital Campaigner and Omagh Town UUP Councillor Ross Hussey. I have been consulted by several families in relation to the total lack of contingency plans by the Trust following their decision in collaboration with the Department to remove day case tonsillectomy from the County Hospital.

Firstly patients were advised that the operations were to be performed in Altnagelvin and a date was supplied, then the patients were advised that the services were to be provided by the Balmoral Clinic, this service was also withdrawn at short notice with absolutely no explanation. Could it be that the service provided by the Balmoral Clinic was on a par with the service that could be provided at the Tyrone County Hospital? Finally patients were summoned to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast - being given only a few days notice and warned following telephone calls that if the appointment was not kept they could be put onto the back of the list - for pre-operative assessment.

Surely these assssments were performed prior to going on the list in the first place? The Trust has certainly a lot of questions to answer and it seems to me that regardless of the consequences the withdrawal of services from Omagh seems to be their main objective regardless of the suffering that this will cause to the long suffering patients that live within the Omagh District Council area.