Madam, - F. Lennon (October 23rd) seems to contradict himself. He says that "energies should be put into re-establishing a viable, appropriate acute hospital service in Monaghan", having already stated that "it is no longer possible to safely provide on a sustainable basis 24-hour emergency on-call general surgical and trauma services there."
Just what exactly does F. Lennon have in mind in terms of provision of medical services in Monaghan? Why is it "unreasonable" to assume that through lobbying and protest we could return to the status quo ante? Surely any sort of democracy would have to admit (and countenance) that possibility?
Is it unreasonable to require that safe quality care and the best interests of patients means that this care is provided in a location within a safe distance and travel time so as not to put patients at further risk? Is it unreasonable to think that professional medical concerns could be satisfied by those who represent the political and economic factors of providing safe and adequate healthcare to the people of the county?
I agree that energies need to be focused on re-establishing the hospital service in Monaghan; but is this not what local professional, and political leaders have been doing even more intensely since the hospital was taken "off call'? In doing this there is no sense of being unreasonable, but simply caring for and representing the people of Monaghan. - Yours, etc.,
Rev IAN BERRY, Clones Road, Monaghan.