Sir, – Minister for Health Leo Varadkar says he is ashamed at the manner in which patients were treated without respect, care and compassion when they most needed it by members of his own former profession ("Parents of babies who died at Portlaoise hospital 'were lied to', says Varadkar", May 15th).
Is it unreasonable to expect that the Minister’s publicly expressed shame will prompt him to direct hospitals to admit errors when they occur, and to offer an apology and redress when appropriate? The practice (it is denied that it is a policy) of deny and delay is equally shameful. – Yours, etc,
Dr CIARAN CRAVEN, SC
Dublin 8.