Not good publicity for TRNC :(

[iancrumpy]

The incident happened in September 2010 but the inquest at Walsall's coroner's court was on Monday.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z2108esbL7

A horrible death and very sad for those close to her, but also it doesn't look for TRNC's image

Here are some of the comments below the article

"She should have gone to south Cyprus,more educated and hotels are wonderful, not even as expensive as this was. poor woman, how dreadful for her family."
- Cheshire Lass, Cheshire, 18/7/2012

"As tragic as this story is, please correct your headline to say that the hotel was in Northern Cyprus, the part of the island still occupied by Turkey."
- Sam, London, 18/7/2012

[Marions]

I am sure that anyone is welcoe to post a comment on the article defending the North. the geography has nothing to do with the tragedy - careless has, but as someone says, why on earth would a maid put the bottle with other bottles ofg drin ks (if that is the truth). It DOES sound odd!

[Rambling Rose]

Unfortunately people will always use a single unfortunate incidence to reinforce their prejudices. I faced a lot of opposition from family, friends and colleagues when I decided to retire here. One colleague in particular based his opposition on a newflash of a child killed falling off a balcony in a Cyprus hotel - in that case the incident occurred in the South.

It is however a timely reminder ot be very careful about storing and labelling dangerous substances. I knew someone who sprayed here hair with Oven cleaner because the cans were similar and had been moved. A few years back my (then) cleaning lady decided to sort out my bathroom cabinet , and ignored the careful order in which I had separated my own pills and portions from my dog's medication. It is a wonder I didnt grow and tail and rush around barking..............mmmm well, no tail yet anyway.

[Rambling Rose]

Unfortunately people will always use a single unfortunate incidence to reinforce their prejudices. I faced a lot of opposition from family, friends and colleagues when I decided to retire here. One colleague in particular based his opposition on a newflash of a child killed falling off a balcony in a Cyprus hotel - in that case the incident occurred in the South.

It is however a timely reminder ot be very careful about storing and labelling dangerous substances. I knew someone who sprayed here hair with Oven cleaner because the cans were similar and had been moved. A few years back my (then) cleaning lady decided to sort out my bathroom cabinet , and ignored the careful order in which I had separated my own pills and portions from my dog's medication. It is a wonder I didnt grow and tail and rush around barking..............mmmm well, no tail yet anyway.

[iancrumpy]

It's not just the comments though Marion, the bit about Famagusta's hospital certainly doesn't help to promote the place
"After an ambulance was called, Mrs Smith was taken to Famagusta hospital where she was initially thought to have been hyperventilating. She was given a paper bag by a nurse who spoke no English"

[Marions]

Valid point Ian, but why should one expect a nurse to speak English in a country where the first language is Turkish! One of the problems of holidaying abroad! I make a choice to go on holiday to a country where the language is unknown to me, but of course on a package the chances are that there is a tour guide connected with the holiday who would sort things out. It is just all very unfortunate that it is North Cyprus where people are quick to criticise. I wonder if the same would have been said if it were Thailand, or India, or..........
all very, very sad.
Actually talking of poisons, a man in our village committed suicide by drinking this awful substance. Devastating to the family.

I have read the article again, but was there proof that the maid filled a water bottle with poison and placed it with other drinks, or was this just said without proof?

[Sandman]

Any excuse to knock TRNC.
Of course it could never happen in the south!?

[Groucho]

By the same token the recent rash of 'Münchhausen Syndrome' nurses and doctors who deliberately kill patients could be classed as bad news for the UK as a holiday destination...

This was an act of carelessness not some intentional attempt to cause harm and could have occurred in just about any place on earth...

[Keithcaley]

Crumpy (almost) said "but also it doesn't look (good) for TRNC's image"

Does anyone actually disagree with that? - I mean, does anyone think that it does look good for TRNC's image?

We all know that sh1t happens everywhere, and as Rambling Rose has said, "people will always use a single unfortunate incidence to reinforce their prejudices" - but I think that Crumpy was just saying that it's one more unfortunate piece of ammunition for the 'knockers' - sad to say, but there you are...

[iancrumpy]

RR wrote "Unfortunately people will always use a single unfortunate incidence to reinforce their prejudices"
Keith wrote "it's one more unfortunate piece of ammunition for the knockers"
Exactly guys.
However the report on her treatment at the hospital doesn't sell the place too well either

[Mel7348]

However the report on her treatment at the hospital doesn't sell the place too well either

I agree. Overall I support the cockup as opposed to conspiracy theory.

Throughout the world there must be many A&E Depts where there are no english speakers, maybe the expectation that by inference there should be is a little unrealistic.

[andrew4232]

Throughout the world there must be many A&E Depts where there are no english speakers, maybe the expectation that by inference there should be is a little unrealistic.

i thought that only applied to the UK these days !!

[iancrumpy]

Hi Andrew
If I were your average man on the street in the UK, I think I would interpret "Mrs Smith was taken to Famagusta hospital where she was initially thought to have been hyperventilating. She was given a paper bag by a nurse who spoke no English" as Famagusta being a place where (a) the medical help is not to be trusted and (b) no body speaks any English.
Yes, we know virtually all the doctors here speak reasonable to good English and yes we know it is totally understandable that nurses outside of the UK might not speak English ... however the public in the UK might not see it the same way

[andrew4232]

i know that i was referring to that to the English national health service

[Rambling Rose]

I see what Andrew means. Possibly not all of the Nurses in UK hospitals have a great command of English.

With greatest respect to the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press present, the media 's priority is not to present all aspects of the case - it is to sell newspapers which means appealing to a public appetite for sensation. I doubt this will do serious damage to the TRNCs reputation in the long run.


What concerns me is the hotel . Surely a hotel of this size and with those prices catering to foreign holidaymakers should have had management level staff on duty capable

(a) of accompanying the patient and translating and

(b) with sufficient first aid knowledge to know that where poisoning is suspected if at all possible you give the medical attendants the source of the poison. Poison is difficult to diagnose and even then they need to know the type of poison before they can treat it!

My experience of medical emergencies here is that there are always plenty of volunteers to accomany a "patient" and translate. The problem is stopping them also diagnosing and treating.