Sir, - Charles Foster (April 4th) describes Michael McDowell's criticisms of the likely outcome of Labour's prescription for "free" GP service for all as "woeful ignorance". This is well wide of the mark.
The British NHS is in nearly permanent crisis. Over 30 years, NHS spending on health has been £262 billion below the European average. Medical and nursing morale is low. There are a plethora of unfilled GP and consultant posts across the UK. Hospital waiting lists are again rising, up to one million people, despite a record spending increase. Conveyer belt surgery for hips and cataracts have been contracted to a German company to relieve the queue. Only 60 per cent of NHS GPs see patients within 48 hours.
Patients in Ireland are much better off. General practice is usually a small business. Laws of economics and human nature apply. Command economies do not work. On this issue, I have no doubt that Mr McDowell is correct. As it is, about 20 per cent of 1990s Irish GP graduates have quit. Labour would be advised to tread carefully on service providers or, like nurses, there may suddenly be few left to abuse. - Yours, etc.,
Dr BILL TORMEY,
Glasnevin Avenue,
Dublin 11.