Stop shadow boxing with health service

Health Minister James Reilly attributes the latest controversial calamity to hit the health service to a lack of resources and an absence of wider political leadership.

He ignores the fact that the centralised, hierarchical bureaucracy that was entrusted a decade ago to take care of peoples’ wellbeing is a systemically dysfunctional behemoth. It is apparent that the Government has lost sight of its fundamental responsibility for the wellbeing of the population of Ireland.

It is also apparent that the myriads of apparatchiks that preside over it have lost control of the direction and management of the Health Services Executive.