In Monday's Tyrone Herald, I read that there is talk of closing the Omagh Urgent Care Unit. I think that to even discuss this is a disgrace. What are parents with children who are ill during the night going to do, or elderly people who are unwell? They can't very well travel to Enniskillen late at night or early in the morning can they? This idea of our "nearest" hospital with acute services being in Enniskillen couldn't be further away from the truth because what are people in rural areas going to do?

The statement that the Western Health and Social Care Trust released said, "The acute services are being removed due to 'inadequate staffing'..." That is another lie as there are nurses crying out for local jobs who have to travel to Belfast for work. It doesn't take a genius to realise that they would like to have a job nearer to their homes.

If someone in the town needed urgent medical help via ambulance, and if someone in rural area also needed urgent medical attention via ambulance, who would get the ambulance sent out to them quicker? Think about rising fuel costs.

Don't get me wrong; it isn't the ambulance staff's fault. After all, they're only doing their job. I just think that this situation is a disgrace and shows that the Omagh "super council" isn't doing much for Omagh and surrounding rural areas. This is coming from a teenager and if a teenager can catch on what a shambles this is, they why can't the Western Health and Social Care trust? Does it really cost that much to keep our acute services, to keep the people of Tyrone free from illness?

If the trust would stop taking away services and start putting them back, maybe nurses would apply for the posts if they thought they would have a stable job.

Disgusted teenager

(Name and address supplied)