Category: Letters to the Irish Times

Madam, – Working at the coalface of healthcare/homelessness since mid 1970s, we in Trust and many others working in the field have been gravely concerned about whistleblowers’ protection.

Addressing the Institute of Community Health Nursing in Cork in 2005, we called for “legislation to be put in place to protect their right to act as advocates in defence of patients and the most vulnerable. Nurses and frontline care workers must have confidence to defend the most vulnerable and society must support them in that role, they must resist being treated as invisible because they work with society’s invisible people”.

In June 2009, I formally raised our concerns with Irish Human Rights Commission and on March 18th, 2010, my letter, entitled “Afraid to speak out and challenge” was published in The Irish Times and could be re-published in its entirety now, as the same concerns remain.

Recent events highlight once again the vulnerability of many elderly people. It is up to all of us, particularly those in a position of responsibility, to act with urgency and ensure that people working at the coalface are not again sidelined and more importantly, by extension, those in their care. If our political masters fail to act now, how will history judge us? – Yours, etc,

ALICE LEAHY,

Director Co-Founder,

Trust,

Bride Road, Dublin 8.

Madam, – “The therapeutic misuse of benzodiazepines in medicine generally is a problem” states Dr Dermot Walsh, former inspector of mental hospitals, (Home News, January 4th). This misuse is now surely widespread in a country crying out for care, compassion and hope.Thanks to Carl O’Brien for once again highlighting an issue of grave concern.

At the launch of Vision for Change I stated it was unlikely to make any difference, based on my experience of working in the field of health and homelessness over a long period. I had witnessed the closure of some hospital premises, with patients discharged to live in facilities much cheaper to run, hostels with no rehabilitation facilities and no appropriately trained staff, where they ended up living in an equally institutionalised setting in which medication continued to be the main element of care. Or they were released to struggling communities with no community support services in place.

If we are serious about ensuring the rights of people with mental health problems are acknowledged and the ever-declining numbers of dedicated staff are not to become more disillusioned and demoralised, action is required.

Change takes time, but why this long? No more reports are required to highlight the inadequacies in our health service.

Our most important asset is our people and history will judge us to have failed our most vulnerable fellow human beings if this situation is allowed to continue.

A new year, a new government, a new set of problems to be addressed should not deflect us from a problem needing urgent attention, highlighted once again in The Irish Times.

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserts that everyone is entitled to dignity and respect – something we should not forget in these challenging times for all. – Yours, etc,

ALICE LEAHY,

Director Co-Founder,

Trust,

Bride Road,

Dublin 8.

Madam, – It is interesting to note that Minister of State for Human Rights Mary White is to sleep rough to raise awareness of the issue of homelessness (Home News, December 21st).

While welcoming any attempts to raise awareness, it should be noted that homelessness is a year- round problem that has not been ended in 2010, as had been envisaged by those charged with the responsibilities of solving homelessness at enormous expense.

People who sleep out do not have an address and as a result often experience difficulty getting their entitlements, some even accessing services as basic as having a wash and a cup of tea – facing the same the next night.

We in Trust have been working for over 35 years in the field of homelessness.

This winter is no different from any other time of the year, apart from the snow which has added to the misery that people have had to endure. Many people all over the island of Ireland have helped to alleviate that misery, some travelling long distances to work and others to deliver goods.

A little more than sleeping out for a few hours before Christmas is required to understand the complexities of homelessness and what is required to ensure that nobody is made to feel an outsider in the community in which we all live. – Yours, etc,

ALICE LEAHY,

Director Co-Founder,

Trust,

Bride Road,

Dublin 8.

Madam, – At one of the bleakest times in recent history, while witnessing many people who have lost everything, even dreams of a better future, it was refreshing to read the piece by Agnes Aylward (Opinion, December 3rd).

It would be very easy to forget we are a tiny island and yet produce the greatest of artists, sports people, thinkers and entrepreneurs, who have had an impact world wide. Why then is the debate about where we are limited to a small number of recycled experts with a very narrow vision of the world? In this technological age many do not have the facility to express their views and feelings about where we are as a nation and what is possible – this causing even more frustration.

We in Trust have been working with people who are homeless for over 35 years and witness daily hope, despair and resilience to keep going. On a daily basis, too, we experience the goodwill and support of people from all walks of life, from throughout the island of Ireland who make our work possible. We witness the most amazing generosity which we have no doubt is replicated throughout our island.

The Christmas period challenges us all to look at where we are, not just to look for money. It is worth reflecting on the issues raised by Ms Aylward, particularly her plea that “nobody in any position of influence should encourage hopelessness . . . but light the candle”. We surely owe this much to each other. – Yours, etc,

ALICE LEAHY,

Director Co-Founder,

Trust,

Bride Road,

Dublin 8.