Sir, - Peter Kelly is right when he claims that under-funding is the basic problem in our health care system. He is wrong in trying to absolve hospital consultants of any blame. Yes, the vast amount of them may fulfil their contractual requirements, but what about moral requirements?
It has long been obvious, to anyone prepared to accept it, that private patients are subsidised at the expense of public patients in public hospitals. As with justice, treatment delayed is treatment denied. Consultants have the power to change this overnight: one waiting-list determined by condition of health, not that of bank account.
Other changes, such as staffing levels, must come, but first we must end our two-tier system. Go on consultants - do the right thing. Don't shoot the messenger. She did not create our apartheid.
Keep up the good work, Maev-Ann Wren. - Yours, etc.,
Dr Noel Rice, GP, Tourmakeady, Co Mayo.