Madam, - Criticisms of Prof Brendan Drumm's attempts to rationalise the health service are coming fast and furious from fellow consultants. If they can pour such scorn on one of their own, what would they have done to someone who was not from such a background?
I am convinced, as one who worked in the health service for the last few years until retirement, that the majority of doctors would love to see an end to the business of private beds in public hospitals.
Until consultants, finally and completely, agree to that, there is little point in building more hospital capacity.
Those of us who have been around a while remember what the consultants did to Barry Desmond when he was Minister for Health and tried to open a new hospital at Beaumont on time. They refused their co-operation until they were guaranteed private beds for their private patients in a public hospital. - Yours, etc,
SEAMUS BLAKE, Youghal, Co Cork.