A human right to get pain relief

Editorial Department • Published 11 Mar 2010 09:00 0 Comments

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Dear Sir - I felt that I had to write to you concerning your article about Dorothy Abram, the lady left in agony by the withdrawal of the Pain Clinic service from the Erne Hospital.

I too attended the clinic run by Dr. Holmes and I have to say it was an excellent service and, despite what the anonymous person at the Erne/Western Trust said to Mrs. Abram, Dr. Holmes did not give out injections 'willy nilly.'

As for the Pain Clinic being run in Omagh I would like some clarity on who is eligible or are any injections being given at all. From my own experience when I contacted the clinic -like Mrs. Abrams I too have chronic arthritis and have had for more than 40 years - I was first told that I was too young - at 66! - to be given an injection. Having left the matter for a number of weeks when I contacted the clinic again I was told that they were no longer giving out injections as they were only working for 'some' people (again no percentage of how many people were benefiting from them was given).

Concerning the Pain Management option that the Western Trust seems to be pushing. I actually deliver these courses and they do what they say, they help you cope with some arthritic pain - by no means all - through exercise, breathing and relaxation. They absolutely do not help you cope with acute pain - for that you do occasionally need injections. Also, they are not a cheap option. I would estimate that 10 courses would at least cost as much, if not more, than the annual salary of a qualified anaesthetist.

Coming to the question of qualified anaesthetists and the problems of attracting them to the Erne I have a number of queries:

1. Dr. Holmes' retirement did not come out of the blue, so why was his position not advertised at least a year before his compulsory retirement date so that there would have been time to find a suitable candidate?

2. If there is a problem recruiting someone as vital as an anaesthetist, albeit one with an interest in pain management, what is the point of the multi million pound hospital that is being built? Will there be sufficient staff to run it?

While the Western Trust may or may not be doing its best for acute pain sufferers in Fermanagh, I think we are justified in asking are our basic human rights being compromised by the withdrawal of a service that was of benefit to many. If so, does the Trust want us to resort to the Human Rights Act to get relief, albeit temporarily, from the pain which I would imagine none of those in charge actually suffer from.

Yours sincerely,

FED UP ACUTE PAIN SUFFERER

This letter appeared in Impartial Reporter 11 Mar 10

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