VHI hikes enough to make one ill

THERE was good news and bad news for the Government yesterday but, as ever in the way of things, the bad far outweighed the good.

First off, hard-pressed citizens were reminded of the high price of being ill in Ireland today even before you get sick at all.

Despite the fact that long-suffering members of the public had been conditioned for yet another hike in VHI charges, few could anticipate the vast profits of the State's private health insurance group.