Madam, - I have read the eminently sensible articles by Dr Pat Harrold and Mr Maurice Neligan in Tuesday's Health Supplement, as well as the letter from Mr Patrick Plunkett (April 1st).
When will it dawn on the HSE and the Department of Health that the following are the facts:
1. There are fewer hospital beds available now than there were 10 or 20 years ago.
2. The population has increased by up to 30 per cent in recent times.
3. The average age of the population is increasing. People are living longer and suffering more age-related illness.
4. In order to have a patient admitted to hospital, a GP is instructed to send him or her to an A&E unit. In the past, a phone call to an admissions office or the medical team "on take" would have been sufficient to obtain a bed.
The answer is that more beds are required and, perhaps, a fresh look at the admissions policy. - Yours, etc,
JOHN SIMON MB, Birchview Drive, Kilnamanagh, Dublin 24.
PS: At €1,500 a day, I am available to be consulted at any time!
Madam, - Will politicians and their bureaucrats please - for once - listen to, learn from, and act on the advice of your correspondents and contributors - particulary Maurice Neligan and Dr Pat Harrold. There is no need for more "task forces" or "expert" study groups - just the application of common sense and encouragement for those at the coalface to get on with their work without bureaucratic interference. - Yours, etc,
RICHARD REID, Rathgar Avenue, Dublin 6.