Madam, - Dr Maurice Guéret, member of the Eastern Health Authority (April 1st), seems to be unaware of or indifferent to the fact that monolingual Irish-speakers, as well as those whose language of preference is Irish, are to be found amongst those "stroke victims, Alzheimer carers and multiple sclerosis patients wait two years for their initial appointments."
The health boards are to be applauded for attempting to "increase the amount of Irish being used by staff". I hope the trauma of terminally ill or seriously ill Irish-speaking patients in hospitals where they are rarely if ever afforded the courtesy of care in their only language or their language of preference will soon become a thing of the past.
Perhaps the duty of care to all patients which Irish medical practitioners and support staff have will encourage them to ensure that adequate arrangements are made to accommodate speakers of Irish as well as the growing linguistic diversity found throughout the island of Ireland. - Yours, etc.,
CIARÁN Ó COIGLIGH,
St Patrick's College,
Dublin 9.