Dear Editor,

I wish to refer to Christina Murphy's response to a query raised by a reader in E&L (November, 7th) in relation to the new diploma course in nursing.

In your reply you stated that two other hospitals are considering joining the scheme, viz, St Vincent's and the Mater in Dublin.

The Mater Hospital is fully committed to joining the scheme and in fact the new curriculum has already been prepared.

However, as the cost of implementing the new course in a major teaching hospital such as the Mater would be significant, additional funding from the Department of Health is required. This is the only reason why the new course has not yet been established at the Mater.

However, we are hopeful that the new course will be available within the next two years at this hospital, additional funding permitting.

Yours, chief executive,

Mater Misericordiae

Hospital,

Dublin.