Health Minister should be business professional

Minister for Health, Dr James O’Reilly, is enduring criticism that might not be the justified.

Minister O’Reilly is a medical doctor and has no business training or qualifications. He is not accused of misdiagnosing illnesses.

Minister Reilly took office and inherited civil servant advisers who had been in situ for years, and who should be familiar with the pros and cons of a large organisation like the HSE.

Apart from the consultants, the doctors and nurses, and the carers, etc, who do excellent work at the ‘coalface,’ the HSE has layers upon layers of management, middle management and top management, and those who manage to do nothing except collect their salaries. This is due to promotion that ignores capabilities and qualifications.

The HSE needs a CEO who has business training, coupled with a team of skilled, qualified people who can keep ahead of the problems and keep the Minister aware of them. There is no point in bolting the door after the horses have gone.

Some of those teams of civil servants, which are attached to ministerial portfolios, are obsolete, causing the Minister to hire outside advisers.

This is a waste of public funds and will continue until a Minister has the courage to rectify the situation.

Richard Prendergast

Rathcormac

Co Cork