Madam, - I find the media coverage of the hospital consultant contract negotiation immeasurably depressing and demoralising. The idea that vested interests have prevented the appointment of more consultants is risible.
The fact is that the groaning bureaucracy of the HSE (and before it the Eastern Regional Health Authority) has made it extraordinary difficult to appoint more consultants.
In 1999, Beaumont Hospital applied for an additional half-time consultant microbiologist. Constant lobbying, endless letters, business plans, cost effectiveness arguments and, eventually, pleading finally prevailed. After eight years of representation, a colleague took up post in January 2007.
Perhaps now, Mary Harney may finally succeed in getting me to work my contracted 33 hours each week, rather than the 40, 50 or even 60 hours per week of the past 19 years. - Yours, etc,
Dr EDMOND SMYTH, Consultant Microbiologist, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9.
Madam, - I am amused by Victor Sheahan's letter of January 31st, recommending that consultants' private practice fees be capped at €45.
Today I paid a window-cleaner €130. This included €30 to scrape a few specks of paint off the glass. - Yours, etc,
KAYE MAHONY, North Circular Road, Limerick.