Madam, - The designation "centre of excellence" is misleading. What is being proposed in regard to cancer services are centres of "specialty". The general work done in smaller hospitals is just as excellent as that done in the larger centres.
The term "centre of excellence" implies that any work done elsewhere is not excellent. This is palpably untrue and greatly resented by all staff in the smaller hospitals.
It suits the Minister and the HSE to continue using this term because they have other agendas for these hospitals apart from the cancer reforms. In the mind of the public, if these smaller hospitals are not excellent, then the case for closing all their services is so much easier for the HSE.
I would ask you therefore to cease using this designation. It may be that it has become the standard term by usage. I suggest that that will not do in the paper of record. The term is incorrect: it denigrates the work done by a large number of staff unfairly and is being used to further other agendas quite separate from the cancer strategy.
The correct term is "centre of specialty".
LIAM J. McMULLIN FRCSI, Roscommon Hospital, Roscommon.