Three ways to improve the health service

THREE things the HSE/Government could do to improve the health service that would be simple, cost very little and save lots of money:

1. Put a sign on every ward with the cost of each blood test written on it and how much extra they cost at weekends – that would soon make doctors think twice about ordering unnecessary or too many blood tests.

2. Put a sign above/on each yellow bin saying “you do not have to put the following in here... These items can be placed in the regular white bin”. Yellow bins have to be incinerated as healthcare waste, which costs a fortune.

3. Have an “ideas forum” in every hospital in the country where frontline staff can express their grievances. Those who are in a position to do something about them would attend.

Will anyone listen? Probably not. I’m only 22 – you need to be middle aged with a degree in marketing or management to get anywhere in the HSE.

Melissa O’Neill

Burncourt

Cahir

Co Tipperary