Madam, - A young person entering the medical profession may have a vision of healing the sick, tending the wounded, bringing solace to people in their hour of need. Thankfully, this is mostly the reality.
But in recent times medical people's sense of duty is being exploited cynically when these public servants are expected to deal in A&E departments with the disgusting results of alcohol abuse. Staff suffer additional stress, yet get neither extra pay nor danger money. The resources of health boards are already badly stretched without the wanton recklessness of our so-called revellers.
Why should publicans, club owners and off-licences sell vast quantities of alcohol, leaving medical staff to pick up the pieces?
The representative bodies of our front-line services - nurses, doctors, ambulance staff, gardaí - would be doing the country a great service if they stood up and said "No more", and let the drink suppliers, imbibers, and legislators deal with that one. - Yours, etc,
Bishopscourt Place,
Bishopstown,
Cork.