Sir, – Sitting beside my child’s hospital bed, I can’t help but reflect on how our experiences over the last 24 hours has differed entirely to what is often reported in the media.
We hear of long waits in emergency departments, sitting in corridors, long waiting lists, painfully slow response times, etc. There is no doubt that the Irish healthcare system is riddled with significant challenges and inequalities, systemic and otherwise, all of which can bring huge distress to patients and their families.
However, it can also work effectively, work efficiently, and is full of empathy, care and kindness – for both the patients and their families. Those moments need to be reported and noted too.
Thank you to Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin hospital for your care, compassion and efficiency. – Yours, etc,
FIONA O’BRIEN,
Shankill,
Dublin 18.