Letters: Taoiseach’s gloating reaction about recruitment is not helping solve health crisis

Given that over 65pc of nurses in the INMO wellbeing survey say that patient safety was put at risk very often, then you could say that she has a point.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar admitted that there is a chronic problem with accident and emergency overcrowding, and people have to wait too long for medical procedures.

He went on to say that 6,000 medical staff, including nurses and doctors, have also been recruited since 2020.

However, despite this increase in recruitment, the problems persist – so it is clearly only touching the sides.

Recently a 92-year-old family member had to be admitted to hospital following a fall at home. She spent 27 hours on a trolley in A&E – and she was one of the lucky ones.

We were allowed to stay with her to assist with eating and drinking. There were trolleys everywhere and staff were under severe pressure. That is unsustainable and it is not safe practice for anyone.

At the same time, the local population in the catchment area is growing exponentially as apartment towers spring up in Dublin Bay North.

Healthcare needs are increasing accordingly. So while the Taoiseach might gloat that recruitment levels are at an all-time high, the reality is that it is reactive and not proactive and certainly does not adequately respond to the healthcare needs of my area and many others across the country.

What is very clear is that Ms McDonald is right, and if 65pc of nurses who work at the coalface tell us that patient safety is put at risk very often, if not always, then we need to sit up and pay attention and not make excuses or make attempts to justify or defend inadequate Government policy which seems to be the preserve of our current Taoiseach.

Killian Brennan

Malahide Road, Dublin 17

Government leaders will not keep up charade for too long

Watching from afar, the non-action of the Irish Government, or rather, its neglect of the seriousness of the situation regarding housing and health, the conclusion that I have come to is the 21st-century politician does not want to be held accountable.

It is the same in the UK and here in Australia, where the Speaker rarely “speaks out” when government members refuse to reply to the questions asked by opposition members.

Then people scratch their heads when “ultra” parties come to power.

In my considered opinion, neither the Fine Gael nor Fianna Fáil leadership have the creative ability to illustrate the positives: hence they imagine that by attacking Sinn Féin about past PIRA activities and connections, the people will put them back into office at the next general election.

As neither Leo Varadkar nor Micheál Martin will accept the facts of the current situation, one can only say, “Dream on, guys”.

Declan Foley

Melbourne, Australia

Churn out the butter price drops, and give us all a taste

Hopefully, the reduction in the price of butter will be spread evenly among us.

Tom Gilsenan

Beaumont, Dublin 9

I have lost faith in the royals but will stay devoted to Jesus

My late grandmother was an ardent monarchist and took me to church as a small child. It was deemed essential to “stand for the Queen” if Book of Common Prayer rites were supplemented by the UK national anthem.

In student years, I jettisoned faith, but retained affection for the House of Windsor.

I examined belief in the Apostle’s Creed and began reading the Bible in 2000-2001.

Chapter 53 and 55 of Isaiah challenged my unbelief, radically redirecting my life’s course.

I was ordained as an evangelist by the Anglican Church in 2017, but church abuse cover-ups are disheartening.

A scathing report has just found glaring difficulties with safeguarding at Lambeth Palace.

This will certainly not strengthen the Archbishop of Canterbury’s credibility.

In addition, King Charles has confessed to adultery, so I feel uneasy at him being made Head of the Church of England.

Each year I read the Book of Acts as Pentecost approaches. This year Acts 13:21 catches my eye.

Kingship or monarchy increasingly looks like a sordidly human invention.

The “Lord Jesus Christ” is the only “Head of the Church”.

James Hardy

Belfast