Madam, - The report in Thursday's edition concerning the public out-patient list for paediatric cardiology should come as no surprise to anyone involved in this area ("Children wait more than a year to see cardiologist").
The current waiting time of over 12 months is one that has existed for many years. The fact that some children on this list are deemed low risk is little consolation to parents. Let your readers try to imagine the added stress that this places on families already dealing with the diagnosis of a possible heart defect in a small child.
Adding to this waiting list is the fact that the fifth floor of the Medical Tower in Crumlin, which is earmarked for cardiology, is still vacant. If this space were available it would allow for extra clinics. Minister for Health Mary Harney officially opened this building almost three years ago. While the floor is due to open partially soon, it will not be fully fitted out until the end of the year.
No doubt Ms Harney will blame the HSE or the hospital for the delays but the fact is senior officials from her own department have been involved in this project from the start.
Regardless of who is to blame, parents are still left facing huge gaps in the services currently available for children with heart defects. - Yours, etc,
SHAY McCONNELL, Director, Heart Children Ireland, Brandon Road, Drimnagh, Dublin 12.