Madam, - I was very interested to read Dr Muiris Houston's article "Border counties better served by North A&E" (Health Supplement, November 8th). One county not specifically mentioned by Dr Houston in his otherwise excellent article is the area most in need of a North-South "health agreement", Co Donegal.
When patients in Donegal need specialised medical treatment they are usually transferred to either Sligo (over two hours away from most of north Donegal) or Dublin (around four hours away from Lifford, perhaps five-and-a-half hours from places further west). As these journeys to Dublin are usually made by road (due to the lack of a direct rail link from Derry or Co Donegal to the capital) one can consider how gruelling they are, especially for very ill or elderly people. It also makes it very difficult and expensive for the families of these patients to visit them in hospitals so far away.
This practice seems crazy when there is a major hospital on Donegal's doorstep in Derry (Altnagelvin Hospital) and several such hospitals in Belfast, only an hour-and-a-half from Lifford. If the people of Donegal need specialised medical treatment why shouldn't they get it much closer to home at Altnagelvin Hospital or in Belfast? Could the Irish Government not be bothered establishing such a service which would save time, money and - ultimately - lives? - Yours, etc,
SEÁN BROWNE, Gillystown, St Johnston, Co Donegal.