Letters to the Editor, May 26th: On clinical governance, starlings and Leaving Cert weather
Sir, –I have read the audit report of surgery for developmental dysplasia of the hip, in Crumlin, Temple Street and Cappagh, from an experienced UK-based paediatric surgeon. It makes for most disturbing reading.
In some ways the most disturbing feature is that a protected disclosure was required to draw this substantial variation in clinical practice to the attention of the Children's Health Ireland (CHI) board.
This seems to be another serious failure of clinical governance in Ireland. There are many similar audit reports over the last 30-plus years, into maternity services, CAMHS, disability services and others. In most cases, the matter was drawn to public attention by a whistleblower, some of whom suffered badly as a result. In many cases, though mercifully not here, people died. There is no comparable data on private services.
Health service boards have an absolute duty to ensure that there is good clinical governance in place, and that the necessary information on activity and outcomes is both collected, and used. All too often this has not been done, with adverse consequences for patients, their families, and health service staff.
READ MORE
It's time to do better across all of our health services, public and private.– Yours, etc,
ANTHONY STAINES,
Professor of Health Systems,School of Nursing,
Psychotherapy, and Community Health,
Dublin City University,
Dublin.
Weathering the Leaving Cert
Sir, – The continental weather of the past few weeks put a broad smile on our faces and presented us with a glorious opportunity to enjoy outdoor living at the beaches, lakes, parks and walkways. The good weather lifted our spirits and the whole country was an oasis of good humour, friendliness and joie de vivre.
However, parents and grandparents of students preparing for the state exams, which begin on the 4th June, were becoming increasingly concerned about the difficult conditions in which students were preparing for the exams.
The dawn-to-dusk sunshine must have tested the resolve of even the most conscientious student. But exam students are made of stern stuff and diligently attended classes, maintained their study schedule and covered themselves in sunblock when they were out and about. No student wants to face important exams with a sunburned body.
Students have done the hard work during the year and are determined to reap the rewards in the state exams. They deserve to do well and achieve the results that will enable them to progress to the next phase of their education or training.
At the risk of coming across to sun worshippers as a party pooper, I sincerely hope that the weather in the lead up to and during the exams period will be temperate. It's not easy for a student to thrive in a stifling exam centre in 20C plus temperature.
Best of luck to all students beginning state exams on 4th June. Go in there and give it welly as it's all to play for. Then, when it's all over, forget about it and enjoy the summer, whatever the weather. Carpe diem! – Yours, etc.
BILLY RYLE,
Spa,
Tralee.
Taxing vacant property
Sir, – In May 2023 Spain passed the Housing Law (Ley de Vivienda) in response to the serious social issue of a lack of affordable housing while many homes and premises were vacant.
Previously, owners of every Spanish property, occupied, vacant or derelict, paid a 0.4 per cent to 1.1 per cent tax on the rateable value of the property on December 31st every year. Now, owners of vacant or derelict properties, if vacant and derelict after two years, will pay a surcharge of 50 per cent, rising to 100 per cent after three years and 150 per cent if the owner has two or more properties.
In France, people have paid taxes on all their properties in various forms since Napoleonic times. In both countries, much of the considerable revenue so raised can go towards building social housing.
But in Ireland, derelict properties are somehow exempt from property tax. Your editorial (May 17th) argued that the collection of the new levies on derelict properties by local authorities takes an a la carte approach, with €20.5 million outstanding. Such behaviour would not be tolerated in Spain and France, and as few can afford to have derelict properties, there is a greater distribution of property and a more attractive living environment for all.
Our Revenue is very efficient, if not ruthless, collecting the Local Property Tax with 97 per cent compliance. Why shouldn't they collect the taxes on all properties? According to the 2022 census, there were 163,433 vacant homes in Ireland, 48,000 of whom were empty since 2016. This translates to over 10 potential homes for every single one of the 15, 378 men, women and children in Ireland today accessing emergency accommodation.
Finally, if we legislate to tax vacant and derelict properties, they will be cheaper for the struggling Buy and Renew Scheme, and the generous grants of up to €50,000 we give to owners to make their derelict properties viable, can come from the taxes they pay. – Your, etc,
DAMIEN MCLELLAN
Faithlegg,
Co Waterford.
Wrong role
Sir, – Friedrich Merz attended a 'role' call for soldiers in Vilnius (
Merz vows to defend Nato territory as German troops deploy in Lithuania,
', Foreign news, May 23rd).
I wonder what play they were preparing for?
Yet another example of sloppy language which has become increasingly frequent in the paper of record.
Does nobody proof-read anymore? –Yours etc
Seamus MacGearailt,
Monkstown,
Co. Dublin.
Students have medical issues
Sir, I am a 4th year medical student, already most of my Irish classmates are talking about moving abroad, to Australia, Canada, The USA, and elsewhere. More than half of the students enrolled in my course are international students, the overwhelming majority of whom will return home.
As a result of this about a quarter of students trained under my program will remain in Ireland. What a complete waste of resources to train so many people for other countries healthcare systems. I believe Ireland would benefit greatly from retaining more doctors and I think that's obvious to anyone.
So what to do?
Maybe we should have optional incentives and agreements to keep Irish doctors at home, perhaps paid fees and/or provided accommodation in return for a few years working in the HSE post graduation. With my college turning a ¤30 million surplus last year, the financial cost of this is negligible, and well worth it for retention of our physicians. I know that many would accept an offer like this due to the personal saving in rent and fees.
Or perhaps, could the number of places in Irish medical schools for Irish students be more than half of the places? This completely baffles me. Clearly this is due to the vast sums of money gleaned from international students (€60,000 per annum) but since when were our third level institutions for profit companies?
There are obviously a plethora of reasons people leave, housing, work/life balance etc.
All of these need addressing urgently, for a long term solution, but these two things could be implemented now.
From a student sad to know most his friends will be leaving for the far side of the planet, could someone please do something? –Yours, etc,
CIAN SEARING
Maddenstown south,
Co Kildare
Starling service
Sir, – Seagulls have an awful reputation as aggressors, Starlings I would argue have a similar menacing intent. Today, having decided on an outdoor lunch, myself and one such bird did battle.
No sooner had I half a toastie unwrapped, he appeared. He was well practised and knew all the right positions from which to plan his attack. While I was successful in frightening him the first few times he came near, he grew with bold with confidence. He moved, I moved, matching move for move keeping his eye on the prize.
The attention of the outdoor area became fixed upon bird v human shadow boxing for a significant corner of a toastie. A passerby tried to scare him away to no avail.
I eventually conceded I would have to move indoors, so disputed corner of the toastie in hand,
I gathered book, phone, purse and remaining half, he seized his opportunity, dive bombing my hand to successful take some of the corner.
It didn't do much for my own confidence to have a tiny bird bully my lunch from me, but you'd have to admire the tenacity of the Starling all the same, a lesson to us all! – Yours etc,
NIAMH BYRNE,
Fairview,
Dublin 3.
Go whistle
Sir, –Having confirmed it wasn't the 1st of April, I enjoyed the headline on the piece (
Flute teacher to appeal WRC ruling he was not a whistleblower' - Irish Times 23rd May)
.
I wondered who compiled the ruling – the Recorder perhaps? – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN MURPHY,
Greenhills
Dublin 12.
Syria needs humanitarian aid
Sir, –The recent decision by the US administration to lift all sanctions on Syria is a welcome and historic development during a time of great uncertainty in the Middle East. This move, following similar actions by the EU and the UK, creates a significant opportunity.
Away from the capital Damascus and beyond some of the larger cities, Syria remains in ruins. The humanitarian needs are overwhelming.
Fourteen years on, GOAL's work in Syria continues and, as ever, has had to adapt to the humanitarian community's fresh challenges. Among our programmes, GOAL is currently working with local authorities to provide clean water to 500,000 people inside the country.
This involves the operation and maintenance of existing water supply networks and the provision of solar power for water pumping stations at a time when the current government is struggling to meet the demands of its people.
We are yet to witness a large-scale movement of Syrians displaced by the war from the northwest of the country to their homes elsewhere in Syria. Whilst security is a concern, the fact is that basic infrastructure is in dire straits and requires significant investment. This is a result of years of war, neglect, corruption, and sanctions – some of which had been in place since the mid-1970s.
Syrians who go back to visit often find that there is nothing to go back to in terms of housing, jobs, education, and basic services. Therefore, they are forced to stay in the places they were displaced.
The geopolitical importance of Syria can't be understated. The lifting of sanctions gives Syria a shot at peace and presents its neighbours, including Lebanon, with an opportunity to rid themselves of negative foreign interference.
The population of Syria and the wider Middle East region deserve better. – Yours, etc,
COLIN LEE.
Director of Programme
Operations,
GOAL.
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