Madam, - Our health service could badly do with a 21st-century Florence Nightingale. It is very clear that nobody in the present Fianna Fáil/PD administration is in the same league as her when it comes to managing our healthcare needs.
The first ever National Hygiene Audit published on Thursday is mediocre at best where the troubled Cavan/Monaghan Hospital Group is concerned. Several weeks after the death of Pat Joe Walsh, and many months and years after the deaths of numerous tragic others like him, the health services regretfully seemed to be regressing not progressing.
The admission by the Minister for Health via a report from her own HSE that hygiene standards are inadequate in 91 per cent of hospitals, and that Cavan rates only as minimally compliant, while Monaghan is merely partially compliant, is a damning indictment at a time when our vulnerable old and sick are going into hospitals to be cured and coming out with MRSA and other superbugs.
Furthermore the Minister insulted patients and their families when she added that she herself would be worried about going into some of our hospitals, following the publication of the audit of hygiene in hospitals. Does she forget that this is ultimately her responsibility?
Over a year after taking office as Health Minister, and entering her ninth consecutive year in Government she cannot divorce herself from problems in that way. How are we to have confidence in our health system now? Total change and a fresh start are needed now more than ever. - Yours, etc,
SEAN McKIERNAN (Jnr), Bailieborough, Co Cavan.