Sir, – It is reported today that an Australian financial services group has bought a 251-bed Dublin hospital for about €400 million (“O’Brien could make over €100 million from Beacon sale”, Business, February 14th). Meanwhile the State has spent €2.2 billion and counting to build a 380-bed one (News, February 14th).
So, in the private sector bed capacity can be bought for €1.6 million per unit and everyone is happy. On the public side it costs more like €5.8 million per bed and “years of disputes” are expected with the contractor. Can anyone remember why and how we’re planning to expand our public healthcare system again? – Yours, etc,
BRIAN O’BRIEN,
Kinsale,
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Co Cork.
Sir, – I read that Switzerland’s most expensive hospital, the University Hospital of Bern, which has 532 beds, has recently opened at a cost of €700 million. Ireland’s new national children’s hospital has fewer beds and cost three times as much. Go figure. – Yours, etc,
COLIN C MURPHY,
Terenure,
Dublin 6W.
