Madam, - I note the number of letters under the heading "State of the health service" and wonder why all those good people who write to you are so surprised that matters have remained the same, or even worsened, under the stewardship of Mary Harney.
Let's be clear: Mary Harney has no intention of providing a health service available when needed with access based only on clinical need. This would run contrary to the neo-liberal economic philosophy that informs her thinking. Ms Harney does not see a community, but rather a collection of people with "rugged individuals" grabbing the lion's share of the wealth generated by the whole. And what is the point of all this wealth-grabbing if it cannot be turned into things such as preferential health treatment? - Yours, etc.,
JIM O'SULLIVAN, Rathedmond, Sligo.