BY MARK McKELVEY

PATIENTS much documented confusion caused since the instant removal of Children's ENT services from the Tyrone County at the end of May were highlighted again this week.

Since the closure of this service patients awaiting ENT procedures have had appointments, postponed, cancelled and transferred to different hospitals, but this week the western Trust confirmed from November 1 all former Tyrone County patients will be treated in the Altnagelvin Hospital.

These continuing problems being caused to Omagh families by the removal of the tonsillectomy service for children from the Tyrone County Hospital were raised by fervent 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," said Cllr Hussey.

"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then the patients were advised that the services were to be provided by the Balmoral Clinic, this service was also withdrawn at short notice with absolutely no explanation."

Cllr Hussey asked, "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 assessments 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." A spokesperson for the Western Trust responded, "The Western Health and Social Care Trust put in place a number of arrangements for the provision of Paediatric ENT services when Paediatric ENT services ceased at the Tyrone County Hospital. The provision helped to ensure that waiting times were not affected and the ministerial targets were met.

"The service was provided at Altnagelvin and the Royal Victoria Hospitals. The Trust apologies to patients and their families for any inconvenience which may have been caused and is keen to ensure the treatment to be provided meets the required clinical standards.

"It is planned that from November 1, paediatric ENT services for patients formerly treated at Tyrone County Hospital will be treated in Altnagelvin Hospital."