Sir, – James Reilly has stated that it is a “perversity” that the best and brightest in Ireland train as doctors and are then “pushed out” of the country. He wonders why this is so (“Reilly to act over loss of trained doctors”, Front Page, July 26th).
Is he speaking as James Reilly, a private citizen; as James Reilly, a TD for North Dublin; or as James Reilly, the Minister for Health? The mind boggles.
Dr Reilly is obviously trying to attach the blame for this unfortunate situation to everybody but himself and the policies he has implemented since taking up office.
I have spent the past weekend with what he describes as “our best and brightest” – six doctors on a brief return from Britain, Australia and the US.
Unfortunately, due to the positions now on offer by Mr Reilly and the Government, they see no future for them in returning to Ireland. At this stage, they wouldn’t even be eligible for a mortgage. – Yours, etc,
Dr ADRIAN HONAN,
Medicentre,
Portarlington, Co Laois.
Sir, — I note that Minister for Health James Reilly has asked for non-consultant hospital doctors to bring him suggestions on how to improve the current crisis in working conditions and staffing levels.
My suggestions would be to read the Hanly report (compiled by the National Task Force on Medical Staffing and published in 2003) and the Fottrell report (compiled by the Working Group on Undergraduate Medical Education and Training and published in 2006), and then to implement the majority of recommendations made in both of these detailed analyses.
Second, I would ask the Minister to re-read the European working time directive, applicable under Irish law to medical staff since 2004.
Finally, I would remind him that non-consultant hospital doctors have made many suggestions in the past year both through the Irish Medical Organisation and the “24 Hours Is Enough” social media and grassroots campaign.
Mr Reilly’s comments seem conveniently timed, given the upcoming Irish Medical Organisation ballot on industrial action (August 8th), but sadly his current interest in the matter is very likely to be too little, too late. – Yours, etc,
Dr MARGUERITE
CARTER,
Rialto Court,
Rialto, Dublin 8.