Diamond Harbour Health Care

Press, 27 December 1985, Page 14

Diamond Harbour Health Care

Sir—ln response ,to the article by Joan Begg f*The Press,” December 23), before empathising with the local residents a couple of facts should be noted. First, it was the burgesses who initially undermined the medical care of the area by introducing a charge for the use of the community centre for weekly visits. Medical service had hitherto been maintained on a subsidised basis and this determined action made the service hopelessly uneconomic. An equally well-meaning replacement has suffered the same fate and the area is now without the immediate services of a doctor. Second, a survey of Diamond Harbour residents made by the Health Department some 12 months ago revealed that the local population was, in fact receiving their medical services from no fewer than 20 to 30 practitioners outside that area. The obvious failure of the local population and its elected representatives to support the local medical service has had its predictable consequence.—Yours, etc., . . F. W. HARDING. December 26, 1985.