Madam, - Ms Maev-Ann Wren appears to believe that preventing medical specialists from treating private patients in public hospitals is going to transform the health service. I am afraid she is utterly deluded. The problems with the public health service stem from waste, poor management, inadequate resources, union-restricted working hours, and political interference.
Think of CIE and you might begin to get the picture. As for the proposal to restrict new consultants to treating public patients only, the sole effect of this particular brainwave will be to make the already difficult job of attracting highly trained specialists to work here utterly impossible.
Ms Wren seems to think that the medical specialists who labour in the health service are in some way responsible for all its ills. I'd be offended if I wasn't laughing so hard.Yours, etc.,
M. JOHN KENNEDY, Consultant Medical Oncologist, St James Hospital, Dublin 8.
Madam - Maev-Ann Wren's constant references to " untrained", and "unqualified " doctors (May30th, June 2nd and 3rd) referring to so-called junior hospital doctors is to say the least insulting, if not a case of scare-mongering. These "untrained doctors" have all undertaken at least 6 years university training and have a professional qualification and many have post-graduate qualifications. Thus, I think it is quite clear to say that they are fully qualified doctors.
What I presume Ms. Wren is intending to convey is that they are not fully qualified specialists /consultants. While this may be true ( although many "junior" doctors are fully qualified specialists awaiting appointment as consultants) the widespread use of the term "untrained doctor" seems to give the reader the impression that these practitioners are unqualified, unable or incompetent to provide an adequate level of care. This suggestion is certainly unfair, unjustified and untrue.
If Ms Wren were to suggest that the staff nurses working in our hospitals were "untrained nurses" as they were not a sister or if she suggested that teachers in our school were "untrained teachers" as they had not been appointed to the position of principal, there would be an understandable uproar by the members of those professions.
Indeed, can Ms Wren call herself a fully-trained journalist since she hasn't reached the level of editor yet? - Yours, etc.
KEVIN POWER, Santry Close, Dublin 9
Madam, - Unhealthy is the state and sick the society.Solutions are needed for a complex problem.The system is overloaded with bureaucrats,short on humane consultants and chronically underfunded. There are insufficient nurses because they are underpaid and so beds can't be kept open.
Consultants are rich and arrogant.They control an antiquated education system for junior doctors that makes life a lot easier for the seniors---it must be changed.Ancillary hospital staff start work too late and finish too early.Efficient hospitals are not 9 to 5 endeavours.Operating theatres should start at 7.30am for elective cases and stay at work until all elective and emergencies are cared for on the day.
Government waste is rampant. Wealthy elderly people with VHI and private clinic access also have medical cards and bus passes. How ridiculous that means testing is not applied especially as the elderly population is on the increase?
Funds are needed to fund this sick patient and they should come from the wealthy sector of our society. The cost of health insurance in Ireland is one third of what it costs in Boston. Private patients who have no trouble getting care as good as anywhere in the world should be subsidising the public system. If the cost of healthcare insurance for those who are deemed able to afford it was trebled there would be more funds available to help provide universally accessible healthcare. - Yours, etc.,
Dr ERIC C.O'BRIEN, Inishowen, Manor Ave., Greystones, Co.Wicklow.