Inane squabbling puts patients’ lives at risk

THE regrettable mess our hospital and medical services are in reflects poorly on those in positions of responsible leadership who represent the vested interests on all sides involved.

During many difficult economic times, with limited financial resources, our hospital services and medics provided expert attention for the ill. Standards, levels of care and best practices in a period of much increased resources have seriously declined, adding to patients’ fears of poor hygiene and its consequences.

Common decency, commonsense, ethics and conscience demand that best practices and mature reason replace the bizarre and unacceptable disputes such as changing light bulbs and who can push trolleys — peoples lives are endangered by such intolerable incidences.

The role non-medics play in deciding who can have life-saving surgery or be denied it, is unacceptable. It is time the HSE, trade unions and the other vested interests, especially medical representatives, resolved their differences and put the health of the people first.

Let the common good eradicate the astonishing greed which is holding us the people to ransom.

John J Hassett

Croke St

Thurles

Co Tipperary