Dedication of local emergency services

SIR – I would like through the medium of your good weekly paper, to bring to the attention of the public, what a wonderful part of the county/world we live in.

On Sunday March 15th, 2015, I experienced this first-hand when my wife was injured on our farm by an animal.

The emergency services that we have in this area are a model to be compared with anywhere in the world. Firstly, the local ambulance crew, the advanced paramedic crew, off-duty ambulance personnel, helicopter crew, local Gardaí, neighbours and community that we are so privileged to be living amongst, then later that evening the various medical teams in Cork University Hospital. To all the above-mentioned, I say, a heartfelt thank you.

I always had a healthy respect for the above-mentioned, but it is only when you see them in action that you fully appreciate their professionalism, dedication, attention to detail and sensitivity to the needs of others.

Regretfully, the last Minister for Health Mr James Reilly, in his wisdom, saw fit to curtail these services to us here in the periphery. Obviously we peasants don’t rate, but worse still, some of our elected representatives decided to go along with and accept the crumbs that fell from the master’s table.

Thankfully, we have people of the calibre of Mr Frank Fahy, and his backroom team, who fought tirelessly on our behalf to hold the line and improve the services available to us here in this area. To the latter group I say: Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Pádraig O’Driscoll,

Coolbawn East,

Caheragh,

Drimoleague.