High levels of hospital bed occupancy

Sir, - In reporting on a speech given by Dr Douglas Sutherland of the OECD to the Health Management Institute of Ireland (News, October 25th) , a number of factors are alluded to regarding the high levels of hospital bed occupancy in Ireland and potential difficulties in discharging those admitted.

One that is not highlighted and is rather peculiar to Ireland is our tendency toward litigation.

Be they experienced or otherwise, for any doctor in our system admitting or failing to discharge a patient is highly unlikely to result in their being sued. Everyone you see but decide not to admit is a potential legal liability.

Our exceptional propensity to litigate leads to defensive practice and this is often manifest by admitting a patient even if concerns for their welfare are quite modest. – Yours, etc,