Billions for banks but no place for the elderly

WE all dislike the fact that the banks have a full Government guarantee. It seems curious that at the same time the HSE thinks the warranty has ran out on our elderly people.

It has been revealed that HSE has full Government backing to close Bethany House, home to 26 elderly people in Carlow. It seems the Government can raid the pension reserves to prop up our out-of-control bankers while as a nation we have insufficient monies to prevent the eviction of 26 elderly persons from their welfare home.

It seems faceless administrators now make clinical decisions regarding our elderly friends and relatives with scant regard for the repercussions. HSE officials seem unaccountable for their actions and the health minister seems fully supportive of the HSE’s actions.

The concept of consent and choice in care settings seems alien to these bureaucrats. It is time to cull the HSE dinosaur if only to prevent it from devouring any more taxpayers’ money.

Paul Horan

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Trinity College

Dublin 2