History of Tyrone County Hospital

Hospital services began in County Tyrone in 1796 when the first infirmary was opened in Market Street, Omagh. The Infirmary was provided for under the authority of the Grand Jury Laws and financed from local rates. The Infirmary's first surgeon was Dr Joseph Maxwell (1796-1846). In 1846, Dr Henry Thompson from Dublin was appointed surgeon at the Infirmary and it was Dr Thompson's son Edward who became one of the co-founders of Tyrone County Hospital which was built on its present site in 1899, Dr Edward Thompson described the new buildings 'replete with every modem facility and improvement'.

Since that time the hospital continued to function as a district acute hospital and following a period of uncertainty in the 1970s the hospital's future was confirmed. During the past decade Tyrone County Hospital has sustained a period of unprecedented development with a multi- million pound programme of refurbishment and expansion being undertaken on a phased basis.

This work has included the refurbishment and development of many departments including the following:

• Wards 3 and 4 - Medical Wards • 5 and 6 - Surgical • Wards 7 and 8 - Trauma/General • C.S.S.D • Accident and Emergency • Out-patients Department • Children's Ward • Renal Sub- Regional Unit • Theatres • Laboratory • Post Graduate Centre • E.N.T Department • X-Ray Department

Front Entrance

To-day Tyrone County Hospital is widely recognised as a modern acute hospital, with a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic facilities and employing state of the art technology in each speciality. The provision of such developments are part of the Trust's strategy of ensuring Tyrone County Hospital will be well placed to meet the challenges and demands required of it.

Tyrone County Hospital is associated with Queen's University of Belfast in the training of medical students and has on site a Post Graduate Centre which was opened by Richard Needham on 21st July 1988.

Post-Graduate Centre

The accommodation comprises

1 Seminar Room
1 Lecture Room
1 Board Room

These facilities are used for meetings, seminars and courses.

1 Medical Library - used by Medical and Nursing Staff

The Post-Graduate Centre is a valuable resource for the Hospital and the community.

The Medical Department

The Medical Department is responsible for the provision of acute medical services for a full range of general medical problems. Patients are admitted either directly from home as acute emergencies or from the medical out-patients clinic.

Medical Department

Cardiac Unit

The 18 bedded Unit is supported by a mobile cardiac ambulance service which is available to General Practitioners. There are 8 cardiac monitored beds for the management of suspected heart attacks. Separate cardiac outpatient clinics are provided and these are supported by excellent investigational facilities including treadmill testing, echocardiography, heart rhythms and 24 hour B.P. monitoring. Close links exist between the Cardiac Unit and the Regional Cardiac Centres in the Belfast City and Royal Victoria Hospital.

The hospital has an accredited Resuscitation Training Officer who is responsible for the provision of Advanced Life Support training for the Units of staff.

For patients who have had heart attacks and those following Cardiac Surgery, the Unit runs a Cardiac Rehabilitation Class in conjunction with paramedical staff from Physiotherapy and Dietetics.

Geriatric Unit

Ward 12 SRU was established as a rehabilitation unit in 1975. There are 17 beds. Its main functions are the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of elderly people. Common conditions treated are stroke, Parkinson's disease and arthritis. Although the majority of patients are over 65 years of age, some younger patients (e.g. after stroke) are admitted to the unit or attend as day patients.

Patients are encouraged to dress every day and undertake their physiotherapy and occupational therapy in the Day Room.

Other professions e.g. speech therapy and dietetics are closely involved. At a weekly case conference the patients future care is discussed with representatives from Social Services and District Nursing.

In 1986 a 12 place Day hospital was established and based in the Unit. Transport from home is provided for patients. A dynamic and active programme provides the basis of individual therapy. A small percentage of elderly people require continuing nursing care in hospital and this is provided at the Sperrin Unit. The ward staff there make every effort to ensure a warm and lively atmosphere and are always interested in hearing from anyone who would like to provide entertainment for our long stay patients.

Geriatric Unit

Renal Dialysis Unit

The Renal Unit opened in August 1989 to provide treatment for patients with kidney failure in close co-operation with the Regional Renal Unit in Belfast City Hospital. It has expanded over the last few years and now has haemodialysis stations operating six days a week.

This unit offers the following services:

Maintenance haemodialysis treatment; Minor blood vessel operations for access for haemodialysis;
Supervision of CAPO and treatment of its complications;
Emergency treatment of patients with acute renal failure;
Supervision and treatment of patients with gradually progressive kidney failure; Full assessment and diagnosis of kidney disease, including kidney biopsy; Assessment and counselling for kidney transplantation, and supervision of patients after transplantation.

The Unit is staffed with specialised nurses with specific knowledge of renal problems.

Department Of Surgery

The Surgical Department at Tyrone County Hospital is a progressive up-to-date unit using all the latest technology required to provide for general surgery, trauma, urology and vascular surgery. Approximately one- fifth of surgical procedures performed are major operations and one-quarter are categorised as emergencies. An out-patient minor operations schedule is performed under local anaesthesia. Gastroscopies and colonoscopies are performed as day cases and general practitioners have direct access to the Gastroscopy list.

The surgical wards are well equipped, bright and cheerful. Each of the main wards has a high dependency area to care for the post- operative patient which can also be used for more seriously ill patients. All the wards have been designed to facilitate nursing requirements and to provide an attractive and warm environment in which to convalesce.

Day case surgery will increase in ENT, General Surgery and Gynaecology resulting in shorter waiting lists for other planned surgical procedures.

A skills unit exists for the training of junior hospital doctors.

Urological services are being provided by one Surgeon across the two acute Hospital sites in the Fermanagh and South West Tyrone area, with all major surgery being done at Tyrone County Hospital.

Day Procedure Unit and Guidance For Patients

The Day Procedure Unit opened in November 1995. It is a fourteen bed unit with its own fully equipped theatre and endoscopy suite.

The aim of the Day Procedure Unit is to provide effective, high quality, convenient care for those patients who are selected for either day case surgery or treatment. Surgery is continuously subject to technological change and advancement. The Tyrone County Hospital has kept pace with these changes and the Day Unit will continue to offer a modern accessible service to all.

The Unit is utilised by Consultant Medical Staff from the various specialities including general surgery, ENT, gynaecology, anaesthetics, medical, radiology and community dental. Other clinics include the pain clinic, prostatic clinic, bladder chemotherapy, renal biopsies, nurse led catheter clinics and pre-assessments for surgery.

The Endoscopy unit has an open access referral system for specific GI problems. Procedures performed include gastroscopies, oesophageal dilatation, colonoscopes, flexible sigmoidscopies, E.R.C.P. and transoesophageal cardiac echoes.

This dedicated facility brings with it dedicated staff who are committed to deliver services designed for the specific needs of day patients.

"Philosophy of Care"

The aim of the Day Procedure Unit is to provide effective high quality convenient care for those patients who are selected for Day Care treatment

Department of Anaesthesia

There is a team of Four Consultant Anaesthetists in Tyrone County Hospital providing a range of professional anaesthetic services to the highest of standards:- anaesthesia, resuscitation, relief of pain and transfer of critically ill patients.

These four doctors work together and closely with surgeons and their nursing colleagues in several hospital departments.

Primarily the anaesthetist administers anaesthetics to patients in the Operating Theatre; the Theatre Suite was completely modernised during 1993 and this has resulted in twin operating rooms, a four bedded recovery ward and an adjacent Intensive Care Unit equipped to the latest specifications.

More importantly is the staffing of the Theatre Suite by teams of experienced and dedicated nurses.

On arrival at the Theatre, patients are welcomed and reassured; a parent may usually accompany the child into theatre until the anaesthetic is induced.

While the patient is anaesthetised the vital signs are carefully monitored to allow their surgery to be completed safely and expeditiously.

The recovering patient is cared for individually by a staff nurse in the recovery ward where different types of pain relief may be administered before returning to the general ward.

Seriously injured patients or those who have undergone major operations are cared for in the Intensive Care Unit where their condition is closely observed and appropriate treatment carried out by experienced nursing and medical staff.

Relief of pain in the acutely ill is often undertaken by the anaesthetist but since 1996 there has been an out-patient clinic conducted weekly for people suffering from chronic painful conditions; various techniques are employed to ease their suffering.

Since Dr Walter Davis was appointed the first consultant anaesthetist in 1951, his successors have endeavoured to meet new challenges, widening their field of practice and acquiring new expertise to provide the best possible care possible for patients.

Accident and Emergency

The Accident and Emergency Department is a modern Emergency Unit. It is an independent unit and is supported by the Anaesthetic, Surgical, Medical and ENT departments.

The Department provides a 24hr service, dealing with all types of trauma and medical emergencies. With their own operating theatre, staff are equipped to provide a comprehensive range of emergency procedures. An adjacent Radiology Department provides a rapid diagnostic x- rav service.

Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Department

The ENT department in Tyrone County Hospital provides services for both Tyrone and Fermanagh and in recent years to the Counties of Cavan and Monaghan. The Unit comprises three wards -male, female, and paediatric -with special facilities for seriously ill patients. The Department has a well equipped modern treatment room where patients may be examined and some ENT procedures performed.

Outpatient Clinics are held both at Tyrone County Hospital, the Erne Hospital, Enniskillen and in Cavan and Monaghan. The Outpatient Clinic at Tyrone County also has an auxiliary treatment room which provides for minor procedures. There is an Audio-Vestibular Laboratory which performs diagnostic investigations including evoked responses for deafness and tests for dizziness.

Regular theatre sessions cater for a wide range as well as more advanced procedures. In recent years, the Department has pioneered the application of functional endoscopic sinus surgery in the treatment of chronic sinus disease. Operations are carried out using a video camera attached to an Endoscope for the purpose of teaching and research.

KTP/532 Laser was introduced into the department in 1991 and is extensively used in routine ENT and Head/Neck operations and computers are used extensively to process data for research and publication.

With the advent of Day Care Unit, Day Care Laser Tonsillectomy is performed in children.

Paediatric Services

Paediatric Services within the Fermanagh and South West Tyrone area have been developed under the guidance of local paediatricians since 1994.

Plans are currently at an advanced stage for the development of ambulatory children services at the Tyrone County Hospital. This will be part of an integrated paediatric service in the entire area.

In order to meet rising clinical and training standards, inpatient children's medical services will in the future be provided at the Erne Hospital.

Out-Patient Department

The Out-patients Department provides regular clinics in the following areas: medical including diabetes and chest medicine, surgery, fracture, obstetrics (ante-natal), gynaecology, colposcopy, ENT, vertigo, audiology, dietetics, orthoptics.

A number of visiting consultants provide clinics in radiotherapy, dermatology, oral surgery, ophthalmology, orthopaedics/ orthotics, paediatrics, psychiatry, mental handicap, and neurology. During some clinics minor operations are performed.

The Department facilitates the efficient processing of out-patient attendances. Patients can relax in comfortable and spacious surroundings with access to refreshments, television, and a play area for children.

Increasingly the emphasis is on improving standards of service to patients and clients through conducting Clinical Audits and Patient Satisfaction Surveys. Health Education and Health Promotion is also a priority, and to this end, a range of information leaflets and videos are available for informing patients about their conditions and the treatments available. Patient participation has been developed by fully implementing the compliments/complaints procedure and utilising the Opinionmeter system for obtaining patient feedback.

Increasingly the emphasis is on improving standards of service to patients and clients through conducting Clinical Audits and Patient Satisfaction Surveys. Health Education and Health Promotion is also a priority, and to this end, a range of information leaflets and videos are available for informing patients about their conditions and the treatments available. Patient participation has been developed by fully implementing the compliments/complaints procedure and utilising the Opinion meter system for obtaining patient feedback.

Diagnostic and Support Services

Department of Radiology

The Department of Radiology delivers a comprehensive X-ray examination service both standard (accidents, GP referrals etc) and highly specialised applications such as the investigation of internal body organs, head and skull profiling, and ultrasound scanning. There is also a Dental-screening Unit and a Mammography Suite for breast examinations.

The Radiology Department employs a Consultant Radiologist and a team of Radiographers to provide a comprehensive supporting role to clinicians aiding them in the diagnosis of disease. The majority of patients are examined in the main department of the hospital. Some patients are X-rayed in the operating theatre and others in the wards using a mobile X-ray unit.

The Department also provides a service for Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital, Family Planning Clinics, General Practitioners, and Residential and Nursing Homes.

With this repertoire of investigative techniques and the aim of the introduction of radionuclude imaging, the Radiology Department is able to offer one of the most advanced diagnostic services in Northern Ireland.

Medical Laboratory

The medical laboratory investigation is one of the principal diagnostic aids in medicine, enabling clinicians to make decisions on treatment and to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. The Medical Laboratory in the Tyrone County Hospital provides a comprehensive service in chemical pathology, haematology, blood transfusion, and microbiology, also providing for neighbouring hospitals, health centres, family planning clinics, residential and nursing homes, public health departments, and a variety of local industries.

The introduction of new technologies into the Laboratory and the advances in modern day medicine have fostered significant increases in the number, range and complexity of investigations carried out at the Tyrone County Laboratory. The installation of the most modern equipment and computers has helped cope with the increase in workload over the past few years. The Laboratory employs both Consultant Pathologists and Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers in order to provide this key support service to clinicians.

Pharmacy

The Pharmacy Department has a responsibility for the purchase, storage, dispensing and distribution of medicines to Tyrone County and Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospitals. Certain specialised services such as the provision of vaccines to general practitioners and Community Health Clinics; emergency drug packs to Ambulance Paramedics; supplies to Family Planning Clinics etc. are provided to a number of community services. Supplies of dressings and medical/surgical disposable products are provided to both Tyrone County and the Erne Hospitals from a centralised Pharmacy Medical Store.

Our team of pharmacists work directly with doctors, nurses and other health professionals to ensure that patients receive the most appropriate medicines, and that these medicines are used in the most effective manner.

Pharmacists provide a comprehensive clinical service, including prescription monitoring, patient counselling, drug information, aseptic cytotoxic reconstitution, patient discharge dispensing, clinical trials etc.

Through the medium of the Drug and Therapeutics Committee, Pharmacists liaise closely with medical, nursing and clinical directorates to introduce and evaluate prescribing protocols across the Trust to ensure that the most effective and economic treatments are provided for patients.

Pharmacy technicians provide a computerised drug top-up service to all wards, and carry out a pre-packing of solid and liquid forms of medicines to assist in an efficient dispensing service to wards and patients.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is a physically manipulative therapy dealing with the prevention, assessment, treatment and management of disease. Physiotherapists treat patients with physical problems caused by neuro-muscular, musculo-skeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory ailments, helping to restore the ill, the injured and the disabled to a normal active life.

The Physiotherapy Department at Tyrone County Hospital is comprised of a team of chartered physiotherapists who provide a speciality service to the following departments: medical, surgical, orthopaedic, Gynaecology, ENT, Geriatric, paediatric, Intensive Care, and the Day Hospital.

A fully equipped outpatient department situated at Riverside House caters for those patients who are referred by local and visiting consultants and General Practitioners. A service is also delivered to the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital, the Social Education Centre, and the Omagh Health Centre. Another Physiotherapy department situated in the Community Services Building at the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital provides a service for the physically and mentally handicapped children. These physiotherapists also offer a domiciliary service to these children when necessary in their home or school.

For more infomation on Physiotherapy go to our Professions Allied to Medicine page.

Occupational Therapy

The Occupational Therapy Department at Tyrone County Hospital provides an assessment and rehabilitation service to both in-patients and out-patients.

The role of the occupational therapists is to enable patients, with their families/carers, to reach their maximum level of independence possible following illness or injury which may be temporary or permanent.

This is achieved by carrying out relevant assessments which enable the therapist to devise the appropriate treatment programmes for individual patients suited to their unique situation.

Examples of such assessment include personal care and domestic activities; perceptual; and cognitive ability; seating requirements; wheelchair provision; lifting and handling equipment e.g. hoist; home situation to facilitate effective discharge and hand function to determine need for remedial treatment, splinting and special assistive equipment.

Occupational Therapists work with patients with a wide variety of conditions: e.g. stroke, decreased mobility, terminally ill, fracture, amputations, head injuries, myocardial infarction, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and traumatic hand and upper limb injuries.

There is close liaison between the hospital based Occupational Therapists and the Community Occupational Therapist regarding housing adaptations and provision of specialised equipment.

For more information on Occupational Therapy go to our Professions Allied to Medicine page.

Speech Therapy

The Speech and Language Therapy Department is based at ward 12 Tyrone County Hospital.

Their main function in Tyrone County Hospital is to provide a service to all adults with an acquired communication difficulty:-

Neurological impairment i.e. stroke, progressive illness, head injury, voice problems e.g. chronic laryngitis, vocal pathology, disorders of fluency.

There are two Speech and Language Therapists -one who specialises in Adult Neurology and the other specialising in Voice and Fluency.

For more information on Speech Therapy go to our Professions Allied to Medicine page.

Audiology

The Audiology Department is concerned with the measurement of hearing and balance senses and the selection, provision and service of personal hearing aids to those who require them, including tiny infants with profound hearing impairment.

A full range of clinical diagnostic investigations are available to help identify type and degree of impairment. These include the most advanced electrophysiological tests to assist in a more precise diagnosis.

Instruments are chosen from a quite extensive range of NHS hearing aids, to suit all degrees of deafness. Only registered users have direct access to the Department, and home visits may be authorised to the house- bound.

Orthoptics

Orthoptics assess, diagnose and treat visual function problems, abnormalities of eye movements and dysfunction of eye co- ordination in children and adults such as squint, amblyopia, lazy eye and double vision.

Their specialised training enables them to assess the visual function in the non-verbal patients e.g. a stroke patient with poor communication skills.

After Orthoptic investigation, treatment and management are planned to achieve the maximum visual potential and relieve symptoms. This is underpinned by education and counselling to both patient and carer.

Orthoptic treatment many be a combination of occlusion, eye exercises, optical, pharmaceutical or surgical intervention which is based on the Orthoptists assessment.

Orthoptists work with all client groups, participate in the training of other professional staff. Orthoptists are part of the Eye Care Team. There are two Orthoptists based at the Tyrone County Hospital.

For more infomation on Orthoptics go to our Professions Allied to Medicine page.

Diabetic Liaison Nursing Service

Tyrone County Hospital pioneered the way in the Western Area by appointing a nursing specialist to work full-time in the care and education of people suffering from diabetes, especially newly diagnosed adults and children. The nurse provides educational help and support in diabetes management for carers in the hospital and in the community and liaises closely with local and national support associations.

Dietetics

Dietitians specialise in nutritional assessment which is used together with clinical information to prescribe appropriate dietary treatment.

Diet is the cornerstone of treatment in many conditions such as diabetes, malnutrition, renal disease and certain paediatric disorders.

Within the Tyrone County there are three dieticians providing a service to inpatients, outpatients and the renal dialysis unit. Their overall aim is to educate patients to make informed food choices required for the dietary management of their condition and to ensure nutritional needs are met.

Dieticians within the Tyrone County also participate in health promotion initiatives and disease prevention programmes, training of health professionals and catering staff.

For more information on Dietetics go to our Professions Allied to Medicine page.

Ambulance Service

Ambulance services are organised through Ambulance Central Control with a base at Tyrone County Hospital. There are a wide range of routine and emergency ambulance services. These include facilities for the transfer of critically ill patients to specialist centres throughout the province.

Chaplaincy Services

Chaplains routinely visit wards to offer spiritual care to patient during their stay in hospital. They can also be contacted at any other time on request.

Hospital/Business/Administrative Services

The departments associated with the Administrative and Managerial function include Medical Records, Information, Computer Services, Business Services, General Administration and Clerical support to wards and other Departments. The Director of Acute Hospital Services is based at Tyrone County Hospital.

Patients Amenities

A wide range of amenities are provided by a network of groups for patients and their relatives to ensure that their stay with us is made as comfortable as possible. The following valuable services are available at the hospital:

Canteen Chaplaincy Service for all denominations Hairdresser Mobile Telephone Service Newsagent's shop with trolley service Specialist Counselling Services Visitor's Room for relatives of critically ill patients

Canteen

In addition, a large number of voluntary organisations, school and youth groups generously give of their time to visit patients.

Suggestions and Complaints

The Tyrone County Hospital is committed to providing high quality care for all our patients. As part of our Quality Assurance Programme we welcome any compliments or complaints you may have about the service provided.

All communications will be treated in a confidential manner as we continue to effect positive improvement within our service.

Please write to:

Ms Noreen May,
Director of Corporate Affairs
Main Building
Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital
OMAGH
Co. Tyrone BT79 0NS

Telephone: 028 8283 5434
Fax: 028 8283 5286

Or you can contact us by using the Contact Us form.