Madam, - I regret that the article in your edition of June 14th on media training for health board chief executives failed to include my rejection of any suggestion they were preparing in any way to reject or challenge the structural changes in the health services.
For the record let me reiterate that health board chief executives welcome the new structures and other reforms. Indeed, some of the structural changes have been prompted by the chief executives and they, like many others, believe that while the present system has served us well, it has been in place for 30 years and changes are required to meet the complexities of modern health care.
In the 21st century both private and public sectors have to learn to communicate effectively with the public through the media which means that they may require training in the technical aspects of radio and television broadcasting. This was the purpose of the two-day media training which I organised last March.
The health boards and their committed and dedicated staff have achieved much over the past 30 years. More and better treatments are being provided for an increasing population, enabling people to make complete recoveries from illnesses that would previously have been life-threatening, while a wide range of services have been developed for the hundreds of thousands of people who need care in the community.
Health board chief executives and their staffs are looking forward to working with the new structures. The sole concern of all those working in the health services is to ensure best care and treatment for all clients and patients. - Yours, etc.,
MAUREEN BROWNE,
Director of ommunications,
Eastern Regional
Health Authority,
Palmerstown,
Dublin 20.
Madam, - I am not in any way concerned about the coaching of health board executives by Mr Bryan Dobson.
I am, however, concerned that the media in general have not put the right questions to these same executives over the past few years.
Who should we hire to coach the interviewers? - Yours, etc.,
BILL GRIMSON,
Villiers Road,
Dublin 6.