Madam, - It is very sad that Prof Brendan Drumm will not be taking up the role of head of the Health Service Executive. We have missed an opportunity for health professionals to reclaim the health service on behalf of patients.
Over the past decade, management of the health service has been back to front. The emphasis has been on writing strategy reports, while the basic housekeeping of managing our hospitals has been neglected. Input from health professionals has been undervalued or ignored.
Our health service must refocus on its core function - the care and treatment of patients by doctors, nurses and other professionals. A doctor such as Prof Drumm, who has daily experience in the front line, would automatically have done this. Unfortunately, this chance has passed us by. - Yours, etc,
Dr CHRISTINE O'MALLEY, Consultant Geriatrician, Nenagh General Hospital; Vice-President, Irish Medical Organisation.