Madam, - I refer to your Editorial "Health Reform" (April 24th) regarding the recruitment of consultants by the Health Service Executive.
The recent tendering by the HSE for a recruitment agent for consultants and NCHDs is neither "precipitate action" nor "provocative".
The tender is for the renewal of an existing contract, in line with current EU procurement legislation and procedures, for recruiting temporary and locum posts in specific circumstances. This involves a very small number of such appointments.
The purpose of the current tendering process is to ensure that vacancies are filled by trained medical staff on a temporary or locum basis to guarantee that services to patients are not interrupted. - Yours, etc,
MARTIN McDONALD, National Director of Human Resources, HSE, Dublin 8.