Madam, - While agreeing with the thrust of Andy Pollak's article (February 17th) on North South co-operation, I can't agree with his contention on the imbalance in the quality of the health services between North and South.
He suggests threr are more efficient GP, dental and hospital services north of the border. The biggest difference is the "free" service in the North. It's no surprise that frontier workers avail of the free service as they are entitled under EU regulations.
The problem arises when they are referred on to hospital services and a Southern address appears on the referral. They are immediately told to seek treatment in the Republic as their address overides their national insurance contributions.
This may, and often does, cause severe hardship to patients owing to the peripherality of where they live. Hence the use of addresses of convenience north of the border.
This is not a quality issue, it's an issue of access to the nearest available service. -Yours, etc.,
DANIEL MCGINLEY (GP), Moville, Inishowen, Co Donegal.