Cross-border healthcare

Sir, – In saying that “for hospitals such as Altnagevin (Derry) and Enniskillen, their population catchment area straddles the border”, you may give an erroneous impression that health services are coordinated and accessible to either population (“Concrete cross-Border co-operation from a reluctant republican”, News, June 20th). This is not the case.

A Southern GP cannot refer a Donegal resident, such as myself, to a hospital consultant in the North.

There is no mechanism for doing so, as the health systems are organised and funded entirely differently, and waiting lists are much longer in the North anyway (such as four years for a hip replacement). My choice for a recent routine operation was Galway or Dublin. Derry would be nearer than both but to this day I’ve no idea if my required operation is carried out there.

The only cross-border activity relevant to most Donegal patients is when, for capacity reasons, the HSE procures operations or out-patient consultations in Northern private hospitals, which of course has nothing to do with cooperation with the NHS.