Sir, - Let me heartily congratulate the perceptive voice of Dr David Clinch (June 30th) in the hallowed editorial page of your paper in support of the valued work of junior doctors and nursing staff.
I too seek fundamental changes (if it's not too late already) within the health care service if we are to rebuild its integrity after widespread recent "scandals" affecting the consumers of our service provision and the widespread dissatisfaction among healthcare personnel.
While recognising the urgent need for a "quick-fix solution" - recruitment of foreign nurses to fill the vacancies which had reached crisis point - I question whether this is the answer.
Likewise, Micheal Martin's initiative to "fast track" the accreditation of doctors from abroad to forestall a crisis in junior doctors working here - is this the way forward for our healthcare service?
Could the millions of pounds used in implementing such recruitment initiatives not have been spent more wisely? We do have the staff here, they who "represent one of the great remaining resources of idealism and skill in our society", in Dr Clinch's words.
Abuse of such personnel by governing bodies and decision-makers, as manifest in the understaffed, undervalued, underpaid and overworked doctors and nurses leaving this country in their droves, is leaving a bleak outlook for the future of our health care service in the new millennium. - Yours, etc.,
Lorna Hampson, Kilmainham, Dublin 8.