Madam, - I was somewhat surprised at the throwaway statement in your Editorial of March 9th, "Getting it right on health", that the greater Dublin region had been badly served in the quality of management of its health services. This has caused unnecessary offence to the excellent health service managers and staff in the Eastern Regional Health Authority, the area health boards, the voluntary hospitals and other agencies including those who care for patients and clients with physical and intellectual disabilities.
Health and personal social services are never likely to meet demand but the record of health service management in the greater Dublin region since the establishment of the ERHA in March 2000 shows that significant improvements have been made in the range and quality of services.
A survey of users of health services in the east carried out by a professional independent company, Research and Evaluation Services, showed that 95 per cent were satisfied with general practice, 90 per cent with hospital in-patient services, 93 per cent with out-patient hospital services and 74 per cent with A&E services.
Each year increasing numbers of patients and clients receive better and more effective care and treatment in the region with better outcomes and this has been achieved against a background of improved financial accountability, reduced staff numbers, and an increasing number of older people and asylum-seekers who have particular health and social needs.
Services provided by the area health boards and the voluntary sector have been linked up more efficiently to provide better and more seamless care for patients and greater productivity and value for money have been achieved.
This year services will be provided for the 1.4 million people who live in the eastern region and those who come to Dublin from all over the country for highly complex procedures such as heart, lung, liver and kidney transplants, open-heart surgery, cochlear implants, metabolic screening, adult cystic fibrosis treatment and spinal injury treatment.
This year, it is anticipated that there will be over 1.6 million attendances at acute hospitals in the region, over 23,000 babies will be delivered, services will be provided to over 8,000 clients with intellectual disability and autism, up to 7,000 people will be treated for drug misuse, over 7,500 older persons will receive long-term care and up to 10,000 children will receive social services
The delivery of this wide range of services would not be possible without the dedicated and skilled staff in the region.
New hospitals have been built in Naas and Blanchardstown, new ward accommodation and a day surgery and medicine facility has been developed at St James's Hospital, a €340 million development at Eccles Street will see new beds and facilities for the Mater and a new Children's Hospital to replace the existing Children's Hospital at Temple Street.
A new hospital is being developed on the campus of St Vincent's University Hospital at Elm Park, St Columcille's Hospital at Loughlinstown is being upgraded and a €34 million theatre is being advanced at Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin. - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL LYONS, Regional Chief Executive, ERHA, Dublin 20.