Madam, - The death of Susie Long has provoked understandable expressions of sympathy and concern from many people. The Taoiseach expressed his own anguish in Dáil Éireann on Tuesday. These sentiments seem to be a genuine mark of his humanity.
He implied that the system had failed her. We disagree. The system actually worked exactly as it is designed to do. She was a public patient and therefore had to go on a waiting list - for seven months. Another patient with the same condition was treated within a few days because he had private health insurance.
This is the two-tier health system, working perfectly as designed. - Yours, etc,
ELIZABETH WATERS, TONY KENNY, Connaught Street, Phibsboro, Dublin 7.
Madam, - I was very surprised to read Norman Stewart's statement(October 18th) that "anyone who has watched. . .the NHS knows that free healthcare doesn't work". As someone who has experienced both the NHS and the Irish healthcare system as both patient and doctor I can state that the NHS definitely works. On just about every criterion the NHS outperforms the Irish healthcare system. When you take into account that the UK has an older population, which puts a greater burden on the healthcare system, and that the UK spends only three-quarters the amount we spend per head of population, then its achievement is remarkable. - Yours, etc,
Dr DESMOND DORR, Kilmainham, Dublin 8.
Madam, - Susie Long is dead, beannacht Dé lena hanam. But nothing will change.
Despite the Taoiseach's regrets in the Dáil, despite the never-ending promises from the Minister for Health, nothing will change - because the people who matter don't care, and the people who care don't matter. People will still wait months and years for life-saving treatment, the dirty toilet bowl in the Mater will stay dirty, because nobody cares enough to change things.
I will believe that Government members are serious about changing this ruinously expensive charade of a health service when they all give up their private health insurance policies and vow to rely only on the public health service that their taxes and mine pay for.
Will they do it? I'm not holding my breath. - Yours, etc,
CLIVE GERAGHTY, Orchard Court, Coolmine, Dublin 15.
Madam, - My sincerest sympathies to Susie Long's family and my appreciation to Dr John Barton (October 11th) for his concise summary of how our inequitable health system operates. As a senior citizen, recently returned from the UK, I live in fear of becoming dependent upon such a system. Although the UK NHS system is not without its shortcomings, one's sense of security and quality of life is infinitely enhanced in the knowledge that free access to medical care is the right of all citizens. This avoids the stigma of medical cards and is used by the vast majority of people without fear of favour or prejudice. It is acknowledged by world experts to be the most economic and effective system of health care delivery.
Now that cross-border collaboration seems to be the politics of the day, why have our leaders not considered setting up an all-Ireland health system based on such tried and tested principles? It would get rid of current inequities and make for greater integration of the population north and south. Most importantly, it would be based on very real and recognisable shared human needs. - Is mise,
MÁIRE NÍ LORCÁIN, Curanna, Golden, Co Tipperary.
Madam, - Having just read Prof John Crown's excellent commentary "Spur to a Rethink on Healthcare", Opinion & Analysis, October 17th), and in after the sad death of Susie Long, I am reminded once again how fortunate I was during my seven years as a "public" breast cancer patient.
I owe a debt of gratitude to Prof Crown and his multi-disciplinary team at St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin for the wonderful, dedicated care shown to me during those seven years. Yes, there were occasions when I was made acutely, if subtly, aware of my "public", status but never by a member of that team.
Surely it's a measure of a civilised society that we demand a universal healthcare system is based on need and not on ability to pay. The courageous stand taken by Susie Long is in stark contrast to the intertia shown by the rest of us concerning crucial social issues. By not speaking up I feel that I am perpetuating a system that is unequal and unjust - and, worst of all, ensuring that Susie's brave struggle will have been in vain. - Yours, etc,
JOAN PETTY, Woodpark, Ballinteer, Dublin 16.
Madam, - The juxtaposition of two items in Tuesday's Health Supplement says it all. On page 5 there is the photograph of Susie Long and the full text of her e-mail to Liveline. On page 6 is a photograph of Mary Harney opening the third VHI Swiftcare clinic. - Yours, etc,
MARY ELDIN, Beechmount Crescent, Navan, Co Meath.