CHARLES FOSTER,
A chara, - The Attorney General and president of the Progressive Democrats, Mr Michael McDowell, has scorned the Labour Party's proposal to provide free GP care for everyone. He ridiculed the notion that people like himself should have their GP fee paid by the State. This was another outrageous proposal by the "loony left", he said.
Perhaps he could explain why his party, as a coalition partner in the present Government, decided to provide free GP care to everyone over 70 - including those who can well afford it? Could it be that there is such a thing as the "loony right"? - Is mise,
CIARÁN MAC AONGHUSA,
Baile an tSratha,
Tír Chonaill.
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Sir, - Michael McDowell's description of the British National Health Service (Irish Times, March 30th) as "disastrous" shows woeful ignorance of what the service is actually like in the UK.
The NHS does have its faults, but the free GP service is not one them. Until I moved to Ireland four years ago I had never paid for medical treatment. Our GP was in a group practice in a building which also housed health visitors and services such as cancer screening, physiotherapy and chiropody - none of which anyone had to pay for. Our two children were born in NHS hospitals, and were seen by countless after-care professionals, again with no charge.
Contrast this with the GP service in Ireland, where a recent visit cost me €35. This may not be much money to wealthy barristers but is quite a large sum to ordinary families.
The idea that the "predictable result" of free GP care in the UK is GP waiting lists, as alleged by McDowell, is just nonsense. Timed appointments are used by most practices in the UK to save time and effort all round. If it is an emergency, a GP will see you immediately. My GP here in Dublin has a timed appointment system.
Despite its faults, the British are rightly proud of their health service, and politicians attack it at their peril. But it was introduced in 1948 in the teeth of opposition from the medical profession. It was the political courage of Nye Bevan and Clement Attlee which forced the legislation through. Would that politicians this side of the Irish Sea had the same determination. - Yours, etc.,
CHARLES FOSTER,
Herberton Road,
Rialto,
Dublin 12.