Madam, - The Health Service Executive says it wants to end overcrowding in Dublin hospitals by ensuring that doctors from the rest of the country refer people to hospitals in their own regions for operations. For 20 years I have been asking my GP if he can refer me to my regional hospital about my condition, which is multiple sclerosis. Instead I have to travel to Dublin to see the relevant specialist, a neurologist.
This involves a round trip of over 200 miles for me, and nearer 400 miles for people in some parts of the country. Then there is the long wait at the hospital which is crowded with people from Dublin and various other parts of Ireland. If there were neurologists in Waterford, Limerick and Sligo, as proposed in a 2003 report from the State's own hospital body, Comhairle na nOspidéal, conditions would greatly improve for Dubliners and country people alike.
Fatigue is a big symptom for many people with MS. Can you imagine what such a journey does to someone with fatigue problems? It can take days to recover. Is it any wonder that many people just cannot get to see a neurologist at all? The same problems face people with epilepsy, migraine, Parkinson's disease and several other conditions. And remember that most people have operations only once or twice in their lives. I have my neurological condition all day, every day for the rest of my life. - Yours, etc,
MARY KEANE,
Mooncoin,
Co Kilkenny.