Madam, - I received further confirmation this morning that the Government is hell-bent on forcing us to adopt a US healthcare model. I required a routine hip X-ray, so I rang my friendly local public hospital - St Michael's, Dun Laoghaire. After an hour or more on hold to the X-ray department, I gave up and called in person. I was told by the harassed woman at reception that I could have an appointment for three months hence - late July.
I decided to go private and rang the Blackrock Clinic. The phone was answered immediately and I was told to come in as soon as I wanted as they had a walk-in service. - Yours, etc,
JOHN O'SULLIVAN, Saval Park Crescent, Dalkey, Co Dublin.