Sir, - On behalf of all the members of Heart Children Ireland I would like to voice our approval for the work that the present Minister for Health and Children has done in reducing the paediatric cardiac waiting list. For many years successive governments have neglected Our Lady's Hospital in Crumlin. This has been especially so in the area of children's cardiology, where staff shortages and lack of facilities led to hundreds of children languishing on ever lengthening waiting lists. This caused unbelievable stress on both families and the overstretched staff who had to cope as best they could. This Minister has been more proactive than any previous one in tackling the huge problems that exist in the Health service as a whole.
As anyone who has read my previous letters to your paper will realise things are far from perfect, much remains still to be done. Last year's appointment of surgeon Mark Redmond to the cardiac team has had a huge positive impact on the surgical waiting list. If further necessary appointments of essential staff are to follow imagine how good things can be.
As a nationwide support group for families of children with congenital heart disorders we would appeal to the present administration to continue as a matter of urgency to upgrade the facilities at Our Lady's Hospital. Now that there may be a downturn in the economy we hope that children and their families will not be made suffer once again as they have in the past. Surely ministers of various governments will not let pure finance impede the progress that has already taken place. - Yours, etc.,
Shay McConnell, Chairman, Heart Children Ireland, The Carmichael Centre, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7.