Services for diabetics

Madam, - I was very sorry to read the report by your medical correspondent that the diabetes treatment provided in the North …

Madam, - I was very sorry to read the report by your medical correspondent that the diabetes treatment provided in the North Dublin area, known as DiSC, will cease following the withdrawal of funding by the Northern Area Health Board (The Irish Times, April 6th). This was an excellent facility in which patients received care and advice in their local GP surgery, rather than having to attend Beaumont Hospital and increase the congestion in the very busy diabetic day care unit there.

As a person who benefited from the DiSC project, I know how valuable it was. Certainly in my case there was "a demonstrable improvement in control". I already have reason to take a poor view of the NAHB (apart from the junior staff who deal with the public and who are excellent); I just wonder if they have their priorities right.

I accept that this is not a major issue with life-threatening consequences. But I hope that the Minister, Mr Martin, who is quite rightly enjoying the praise for his courage in introducing the smoking ban, could intervene and gain even more "Brownie points" in North Dublin. - Yours, etc.,

W.J. MURPHY, Malahide, Co Dublin.