Sir, - What is the point of Dr Mark Harrold's letter (November 17th), which can only cause anxiety to the parents and friends of residents of St Ita's and is extremely unfair?
My son (38) has been living there for the past 15 years. He was damaged by Thalidomide in early early pregnancy, and has multiple physical abnormalities, which caused him to be unable to speak. This gave rise to great frustration in his early years, which made him difficult to handle, and he could not settle in, for instance, the Camphill homes. Now he has found great happiness in St Ita's, and his personality has benefited enormously. The love and devotion given to him by the staff cannot be surpassed and the hospital has become his home. Never mind the Dickensian wards - it is the care that counts. As a regular visitor I have got to know St Iva's very well, and I have certainly never seen scenes as described by Dr Harrold.
Of course mental handicap is a very wide field; the extreme cases must live different lives from the great majority of the other residents, but I can assure the good doctor that the care given is no less than that given to my son. Those who can benefit enjoy trips to Croke Park, summer holidays in Arklow, the Christmas show and party and visits to Northern Ireland. I have the greatest admiration for the underpaid and overworked staff who do an extremely difficult job with patience and love. The good news is the £13 million grant from the EHB to the hospital which it so direly needs.
I would gladly meet Dr Harrold and show him the other side of St Ita's. It might surprise him. - Yours, etc., Dr Johanna Collis,
Season Park,
Newtownmountkennedy,
Co Wicklow.