Madam, – Alex Cleland’s idea (July 12th) that the public sector is separate from the private sector is over-simplistic. Hospital medical scientists like myself are paid from HSE funds, but we provide pathology testing for public and private patients; inpatient charges apply, paid mainly by private health insurance. This also applies to radiology departments.
Are GPs public or private sector? Teachers in fee-paying schools are public servants who teach in the private sector. In addition, many private companies rely heavily on taxpayers’ money, spent by government departments. Public and private sectors are so interdependent that we sink or swim together (think of the banks). – Yours, etc,