Sir, - I trust you will allow me to be "politically incorrect" in praising our health service. Recently my wife spent a spell in St Michael's Hospital, Dun Laoghaire. She suffers from Parkinson's Disease and contracted other problems not allied to this. I was impressed by the service we got from all those involved over the past fortnight.
The ambulance crew was absolutely wonderful, attentive and caring in handling her into the ambulance from a third-floor flat;
She was received with great care into the female surgery ward via Accident and Emergency.
During the sojourn in hospital she received every attention from physiotherapists and from the occupational therapist, as well as superb nursing care from an obviously over-stretched staff;
On discharge the hospital social services office contacted the EHB's local office. We received in-depth visits from the district nurse, occupational therapist and physiotherapist and as an added gesture, two phone calls from the hospital to see how she was getting on.
And there was more. I feel the service we received from our state health service should be recognised. It was "made human" by the wonderful people who took part and I would like to thank them all. - Yours, etc.,
D.J. Mooney, Killarney Hill Park, Co Dublin.