Madam, - I am delighted to note that, in the context of the nursing home charges scandal, the Tánaiste has finally publicly acknowledged the culture of "systemic maladministration" that exists throughout the health service.
The Health Service Executive responded immediately by announcing a national helpline to assist the estimated 275,000 people affected. It then proved the Tánaiste's point by deploying six people to man the phone lines (The Irish Times, March 1st).
This type of ineptitude is simply farcical. What is most disturbing however, is that the people responsible for this scandal continue to administer the health service on our behalf.
Unless health service administrators are made accountable for "maladministration" then all attempts at reform are destined to end in failure. Let us hope the Tánaiste has the political will to tackle this issue, and not capitulate to the demands of adminstrators and their union representatives. Patients and their families cannot wait any longer. - Yours, etc.,
Dr RUAIRI HANLEY, The Rise, Mount Merrion, Co Dublin.