Sir, - We welcome the debate prompted by Maev-Ann Wren's articles on the health services in Ireland. However, we would like to comment on some of the misinformed aspects of her reports.
The undersigned are the nine consultant physicians responsible for the care of patients admitted through the Accident and Emergency department to the general medical wards at Beaumont Hospital. The appalling delays waiting for emergency treatment and for ward admission are insulting and deeply offensive to patients. It is incorrect to suggest that the people who are working in the health care system are deliberately adding to these delays.
The reason people are forced to wait is that there are not enough beds either in acute care hospitals or in long-stay facilities. This is due to inadequate government funding and a gradual closure of long-stay nursing beds. The shortage is compounded by the fact that almost 15 per cent of the available acute hospital beds are closed due to a shortage of nurses. Furthermore, our hospitals are working inefficiently because of the lack of vital secretarial and other support staff. It is difficult to see how these problems relate to the consultants' contract of employment.
Politicians and those who elect them should be aware that this winter many people will suffer appalling delays in Irish hospitals due to these resource problems. - Yours, etc.,
Dr R. Costello, Dr C. Donegan, Dr J. Finucane, Prof. N McElvaney, Dr F. Murray, Dr P. O'Connell, Dr S. O'Neill, Dr S. Patchett, Dr G. Sheehan, Dr C. Thompson, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9.