Sir, - I refer to the article by Dr Muiris Houston in your edition of September 25th entitled, "Trinity study confirms inequalities in Irish healthcare".
This headline is utterly misleading and inaccurate - and the study, of course, confirms no such thing. What it does demonstrate is that inequalities in Irish health (not healthcare) are associated with social deprivation. This association is well known. Whether or not this has anything to do with inequalities in Irish healthcare is not, as far as I can see, addressed by the study.
Social deprivation results in poor health for a variety of reasons. Among these are poor diet, bad housing, cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, lack of exercise, family breakdown, poor education levels and significantly increased stress. Poor access to healthcare also has a role to play.
The attention-grabbing headline above Dr Houston's report bears no relationship to its content. Whether this is due to the usual axe-grinding on the part of The Irish Times or to editorial sloppiness is for you to decide. A little more critical analysis from The Irish Times, and a little less reflexive cant, would go a long way to better inform the debate about healthcare. - Yours, etc.,
John Kennedy, Cowper Drive, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.