Divided over health reform

Sir, – In your Editorial (February 19th) you criticise the absence of clarity and certainty in the debate, and go on to refer to bickering between Ministers, citing by way of example an alleged conflict over GP services for the under-sixes.

For the sake of the clarity and certainty you rightly advocate, perhaps you would correct your own wholly inaccurate claim that I had suggested a GP attendance fee for children under six was possible. I have never made any such suggestion. It follows that Minister for Health James Reilly has not rejected such an approach, because it has never been proposed.

In fact, the only suggestion that has ever been made of such a charge has been in your Editorial. There will be no charges nominal or otherwise for GP services to children under six. – Yours, etc,

ALEX WHITE TD,

READ MORE

Minister of State,

Department of Health,

Hawkins House, Dublin 1.