Dr Kieran Deeny polled more than 6,000 votes in West Tyrone
A doctor who ignored party politics to fight for a County Tyrone hospital has topped the poll in the Northern Ireland Assembly election.
Dr Kieran Deeny polled more than 6,000 votes on Thursday to win a seat in West Tyrone.
He stood as an independent candidate, basing his campaign solely on the fight to keep acute services at Omagh Hospital.
"This is quite a significant message from West Tyrone that people demand things other than green and orange politics," Dr Deeny said.
"There are other responsibilities that must be met, other duties that must be undertaken and we need this assembly up and going.
"The sooner it happens, the better. The sooner we have a new health committee and the sooner I am on it, as far as West Tyrone is concerned, the better."
Dr Deeny is the first single issue candidate to be elected as an assembly member.