The Western Health and Social Care Trust has carefully reviewed all the options on how best to deal with the old burial ground that currently lies in the middle of the site identified for the new Omagh Hospital Complex.
It was initially proposed that the human remains in the burial ground should be exhumed and re-interred in another location in Omagh as part of the plans for the building of the new hospital complex. The Minister said, “I understand the senior management team in the Trust has reviewed all the options and now intends to recommend to the Trust Board a proposal to re-position the new hospital building sensitively around the burial ground and therefore avoid the need for re-interment.”
The existence of the burial ground at the Tyrone and Fermanagh hospital has been known for many years by people working in the hospital, although largely unknown in the wider community, and sadly little is known about the identities of the patients buried there up to 1946 when it was last used.
The Minister added, “In considering the future of the burial site I had asked the Western Health and Social Care Trust, and my Department’s Health Estates Agency, to examine all the options thoroughly, ensuring that the burial ground is handled with great sensitivity and that due respect is shown to those buried on the site.
“I am satisfied that the Trust has consulted widely on this important and sensitive matter and given very careful consideration to the available options. I think the people of Omagh can feel re-assured that this matter has been dealt with effectively and sensitively by the Trust.”
The design of the new hospital complex will be developed in consultation with a range of stakeholders including deceased patients' relatives and service users.
Notes to Editors:
- The burial site is situated at the Tyrone & Fermanagh hospital and lies in the middle of the site identified for the new Omagh Hospital Complex. It is estimated that the burial ground constitutes 140 graves, in non-consecrated ground.
- The options for the burial ground were issued for public consultation in May 2007.
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