Sir, - I understand there has been some discussion in these pages about the state of the Irish healthcare system. I would just like to say that I was incredibly impressed by my experience at Temple Street Children's Hospital the night of November 6th.
We live in New York and were visiting my parents in Dublin when my 11-month-old son, Sam, swallowed a potential poison. At Temple Street emergency room our registration and paperwork took 10 minutes, we saw a nurse immediately, Sam had an ECG done within 30 minutes or so. We saw a doctor who reassured us that he seemed fine, but admitted him for the night to be monitored.
The nursing staff in the emergency room and the ward were exceptionally warm and caring. The decor in both was bright and colourful with an abundance of toys. It was presumed that I would stay overnight with Sam and was provided with a blanket and pillow.
In the morning a wonderfully "old school" consultant, who didn't introduce himself or ask who I was, simply boomed "Sam? Home!", which we interpreted good-naturedly to mean all was well and we could leave. And all of this for the princely sum of £25.
There is no comparison to be made between the treatment we received and what we would have gone through at our local New York hospital. You may think your health service is lacking, but until you have fought with accountants to get treatment, waited for hours to see a doctor for a brief inspection, and received bills that would make your hair stand on end you don't know how lucky you are. - Yours, etc.,
Ms Corrie Shanahan, East 82nd Street, New York.