Ineffectual management and failure to respond defines the HSE

“In the carefully controlled media environment of the HSE, it’s rare for an employee to speak out”

Catherine Shanahan’s opening comment is a universal truth for sure.(Viewpoints, Irish Examiner, April 10)

Given the HSE’s addiction to avoidance, denial, obfuscation and needless subterfuge, Des McSweeney was always going to be on a hiding to nothing. Going to the media regarding an ‘internal’ matter, was well nigh to high-treason.

How could he ever have imagined that there wouldn’t be apoplexy in the upper echelons of the HSE, when he blew the lid off the impasse surrounding the non-opening of a new mental health unit at CUH.

His motives seemed laudable, as he reckoned that “the new unit is not clinically fit-for-purpose and will ultimately endanger the lives of people using the service”. How could anyone argue with that stance? So one wonders how the suits in the HSE could have allowed things to arrive at this juncture of stalling, intrigue and stand-off.

Of course, nationally the HSE has its own fiefdom claims and charter of silence and fudge. Not only are there many failed (nay tragic) clinical cases, but the ineffectual management and stagnant response leave everyone wondering how many of these people ever secured their comfortable sinecures of cossetted entitlement.

Singing off the one-hymn sheet doesn’t work when there are no words on the sheet.

Jim Cosgrove

Chapel Street

Lismore

Co Waterford