Tyrone West: Each of the other five successful candidates joined West Tyrone's poll-topper, Independent Dr Kieran Deeny in declaring their support for the retention of acute hospital services in Omagh as they made acceptance speeches at the end of the count last night.
The loudest call made however was from Dr Deeny, who had been elected on the first count with 6,158 votes.
"Let the message go out to the Sperrins Lakelands Trust. There will be no more decimation of acute services, no more demoralisation, no more driving away decent healthcare staff. It stops as of now," he said. "And a message for the four political parties: Get your act together. The people need an Assembly. The sooner there's an Assembly the sooner there's a Health Committee and the sooner I am on it." Mr Pat Doherty (SF) said he wanted to warn the Department of Health not to reduce support for hospital services to one MLA.
"The support lies in all four parties," he said, while his party colleague, Mr Barry McElduff said the health issue "belongs to everyone".
Mr Robert Hussey (UUP) said he too was committed to retaining health services within Omagh as did Mr Thomas Buchanan of the DUP, who said he would "continue to fight for the hospital in west Tyrone."
