Sir, – I couldn’t agree more with Tom O’Dowd (Letters, April 10th) on the NHS in Britain. Surely we can try to emulate its achievements. Most Irish health professionals who have worked outside Ireland have chosen to work in that system. Thousands of Irish emigrants and their families have benefited from it. I worked in Britain in the 1980s and I did not have to hesitate before consulting a doctor while there. I knew that no matter what my circumstances I would be seen and treated.
Perhaps we do not need to look to the Netherlands or Belgium or the USA for models of health insurance. Our nearest neighbours have a health service that British people can be justly proud of, despite its critics. Why not forget about making insurance companies rich? Let us fund our universal health care from our tax. Let everybody pay according to their means and let the only criteria for use be medical need. Yours, etc,
PHILIP MORIARTY,
Shanowen Avenue,
Dublin 9