Madam, – It was with great sadness that I heard of the passing of Dr Maurice Neligan. A dedicated,highly skilled and courageous surgeon and a man of outstanding integrity. His articles were written with passion, belief, conviction, knowledge and incredible common sense.
I hugely admired his concern for the welfare, care, and treatment of ill children, and his selfless and courageous opinions which he has always expressed so honestly.
His love and knowledge of the Kerry countryside were expressed so wonderfully in his column in The Irish Times HEALTHplus supplement. For me, his powers of observation and understanding of life were encapsulated in his description of “the flow and ebb” of tide, at the Caragh estuary – never to be forgotten. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The late Maurice Neligan had that most important of qualities for a medical practitioner – human empathy. A colleague told me of seeing him, many years ago in the Mater hospital, gently holding the hand of one of his patients as he told her of the almost certain terminal illness that afflicted her.
Although he was the consultant and could easily have delegated this difficult task, he took it on himself to give the terrible news and did so considerately and respectfully. He was an admirable human being and no doubt those who he could not save, but to whom he showed such considerateness, were there to welcome him as he crossed the great divide. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Dr Maurice Neligan was a wonderful human being, a brilliant and dedicated doctor. He made patient care, the hospital, the health service and the world a better place. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Dr Neligan always put the patient first. Let’s name the new children’s hospital, The Maurice Neligan Centre of Excellence Children’s Hospital, and locate it, in a responsible, and accessible location. He was trusted, and respected, and naming the hospital after him would help restore confidence and respect in the health service. The children must be put ahead of politics, and self- interest, just as the patient should be the number one in the health service. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I regret the untimely death of Dr Maurice Neligan. For me and for many others in this benighted land he was an all too rare example of the modern patriot. He was a consummate professional and was passionate in his pursuit of the common good in his chosen field of medicine.
Although a prominent Irishman, he was not preoccupied with his own image or his own profession’s narrow self-interest, but cared deeply about addressing the needs of patients across the country. His many articles in this newspaper bear witness to this concern. We are the poorer for his passing. – Yours, etc,