Madam, - On a recent visit to a medical consultant in Dublin I was shocked by the fee. For a 10 to 15 minute consultation I was handed an invoice for €200.
I queried the amount as I had a letter of appointment dated early December 2005, informing me that the consultation would cost me €125 and outlining different methods of payment. The secretary's reply was that the fee for 2006 was €200. This represents an increase of 60 per cent.
I think it is time that Eddie Hobbs took a really close look at private medicine in Ireland. - Yours, etc,
BERNARD SLOWEY, New Ross, Co Wexford.