BY MARK McKELVEY

m.mckelvey@ulsterherald.com

THE plight of health care provision in West Tyrone was once again raised this week with Health Minister, Paul Goggins and other senior health officials.

West Tyrone DUP assembly member, Tom Buchanan took the opportunity to raise this crucial local issue at a meeting designed to discuss proposed new health structures within the context of the Review of Public Administration held at Stormont on Monday.

The MLA stated he felt this meeting was a "golden opportunity" not to be missed to again highlight the serious inequalities of Health provision here.

"On highlighting the concerns and anxieties of the people in West Tyrone about the continual removal of services from the Tyrone County Hospital and the undue suffering of patients as a direct result of this deliberate decline in services, received favourable hearing from the floor," said Cllr Buchanan.

"Of course actions speak louder than words and promises from the minister mean nothing without delivery on the ground. Nevertheless the minister and his senior officials were again left in no doubt of the ongoing plight of the people of Omagh and West Tyrone.

"However, I was somewhat dismayed that none of the other MLA's from West Tyrone attended this meeting."

Cllr Buchanan warned, "There is no room for complacency amongst the elected representatives on this all important matter, whose voices must be raised at every given opportunity for the return of acute hospital provision in Omagh for the South West Quarter of Northern Ireland - the fight must go on.