Reilly needs to look at himself in the mirror

Health Minister James Reilly’s transferring of lots (areas of home help care formally under the HSE) to private care providers can be justified by him as a rational measure which will relieve the HSE of some of its top-heavy bureaucratic burden, thereby removing from Dr Reilly the stench of political corruption, which would otherwise attach itself to an office holder lending a vital helping hand in furthering the interest of the private care sector.

Dr Reilly’s shameful behaviour is simply a continuation of the longstanding policy of buttoning down the health service at the coal face in order to protect the interests of HSE bureaucrats, and the outrageous irrational remuneration of consultants, which could only be meekly tolerated in rip-off Ireland.

One might wonder when Dr Reilly looks in his mirror in the morning, does he see the idealistic doctor he once was, or recognise the empty hypocritical, cynical politician he has become?

One might also wonder if Dr Reilly remembers one of the first principles of his Hippocratic oath: “I will keep them from harm, and injustice.”

Pierce Martin

Celbridge

Co Kildare