Madam, - If hospital consultants are "on the pig's back" and, by implication, swine being paid pearls, then Vincent Browne (Opinion, June 11th) is wallowing in sow's swill.
Journalists seem to love bad news - criticisms, closures, cutbacks, court stories, crises, medical mismanagement, et al. The Irish health service has many admirable components. One of the major problems of our public health system is that there is little or no recognition, reward or extra resource for the typist, ward sister, physiotherapist, who deliver an excellent service. Indeed, I suspect there are plenty of consultants who work hard, do no private practice, serve their public patients and probably earn less than Vincent Browne.
Would any journalist dare or care to pen a piece on peccadillos, backhanders and miscreants in their own profession? - Yours, etc.,
DENIS GILL, FRCP,
Tivoli Close,
Dun Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.
Madam, - Dr Tom O'Dowd (June 18th) accuses the IHCA of articulating "a vision of medicine that is seen to be about salaries, private practice and self-interest" and argues, in effect, that the IHCA does not represent the views of its members. He is incorrect in both assertions.
Submissions made by this association to the Medical Manpower Forum, the Brennan and Prospectus committees and our annual pre-Budget proposals, etc. have all emphasised the need to fund the health services and in particular to restructure the manner in which health services are delivered. Several years ago, we proposed that there should be a more flexible delivery of routine hospital services and more than 1,000 extra consultants should be appointed to give a consultant's service to the majority of patients. We have stated that, subject to agreement on detail, consultants are prepared to become involved in management and to accept budgetary responsibility. As Dr O'Dowd knows well, consultants are the drivers of change and medical innovation in our hospital services.
We have been awaiting the opening of contract negotiations for over two years. Individual consultants, hospital medical boards and the IHCA have been among the most vociferous in their criticism of the recent cuts in hospital services and have argued within the system for the beds and resources to treat patients. What more can we do? I challenge Dr O'Dowd to produce any worthwhile body of evidence to support his outrageous claim about the actions of the IHCA. - Yours, etc.,
FINBARR FITZPATRICK,
Secretary General,
Irish Hospital
Consultants' Association,
Dundrum,
Dublin 14.