Sir, – In relation to consultants and their fees and in response to James Norton (Letters, April 2nd) I agree that “in a free market a consultant is entitled to determine their own fees for outpatient consultations”.
The problem arises, however, when often there is no visibility as to what individual consultants charge prior to a person making an appointment. If there was more transparency regarding fees charged by clinics, private hospitals and consultants, and these fees were displayed on their websites, then patients could make their own choice if they were concerned about the cost of a consultation.
At this time patients are often in a vulnerable position and it might help if they were more informed as to relative costs before making such a decision. – Yours, etc,
Gerard Kervick,
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Consultant ophthalmologist,
Bruff,
Co Limerick.
