Sir, – The HSE advises us to stay away from hospitals because they are under so much pressure of work, and to see our GP or pharmacist instead if we are worried (“Public urged to ‘consider all options’ before going to hospital amid surge in viruses”, News, January 3rd).
The GP’s secretary tells us that the GP is very busy, can’t fit us in for an appointment and that we should go to the hospital emergency department if we are worried. The pharmacist tells us that if it’s anything worse than a common cold, he has no training or experience in examining or treating patients so that we should go to the GP or the hospital if we are worried.
I’m not a patient person but I’m finally realising that a patient’s most valuable characteristic is patience. – Yours, etc,
GARRY BURY,
‘I feel like I’m in a war zone’: Hosting the Olympics is not all fun and games for Paris
Music festival tents: can you save money while saving the planet?
Autocracy, Inc: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World by Anne Applebaum: Disturbing account of strongmen’s links
‘We are caring for your parents like they are our parents - but we can’t bring our families here’
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.