Sir, - 1. Would you allow yourself to fly in a plane if you knew the pilot was underslept and had been working extremely long hours in poor working conditions? What if a pilot informed us that his training was not sufficient to keep up with modern technology? Wouldn't pilots themselves refuse to fly under those circumstances for the sake of their passengers? More than likely the public would be in uproar, The pilots would go on strike and the airline would be forced to make improvements.
Why, then, does there seem to be no-one listening to junior doctors protesting that they cannot continue with the structure in place at the moment?
I was in hospital recently and trusted the doctors in charge of me. One of them was Dr Steve Harris whom, I read in the Examiner, was organiser of the protest march by junior doctors to the Dail on Saturday, September 11th. I therefore, took notice when he stated:
"This march is all about putting the patients before the pound. It's in the best interests of patients and doctors that the issue of overworking be addressed. Our working conditions are the very conditions that determine how a health service is delivered.
"We need proper training for complex areas of research to keep up with the latest medical developments. Patients aren't getting the care that should be available as a result."
I took his advice in hospital and I am taking his advice that our health service is in dire circumstances.
I may only be 17, but I am learning that life is a precious thing and that every effort should be made to ensure all people have the opportunity to live as long and healthy a life as possible. The health service should not be scrimping and jeopardising this by refusing to listen to junior doctors. - Yours, etc.,
Claire Brady,
Calderwood Road,
Donnybrook,
Douglas,
Cork.