Madam, - At 5am on June 4th, 2004, my lovely wife died in my arms, following four years of cancer. In recent days much media coverage is being given to the never-ending "trolley situation" in our hospitals.
However, there is another unfortunate dimension to being hospitalised.
My wife was bedded in a public ward for the last 14 days of her life, and this under the gaze of all ward comers - all of whom knew she was dying, day by day.
To have subjected her to this indignity, together with the added indignity of the total lack of privacy in matters of personal hygiene, is beyond what she should have had to bear.
Whilst nursing staff were at all times quite caring, I remain at a loss to understand why any very ill human being should have to endure such a demeaning situation. And I firmly believe that all such ill patients merit greater levels of privacy.
Should Mary Harney read this letter, I trust she will understand its significance to many people. - Yours, etc,
WILLIAM HENNESSEY, Sandycove, Co Dublin.