GRATEFUL for a little space, if possible, to air a thought I had recently.

First of all: the experience. I accompanied a friend to have a procedure at the Endoscopy Centre, St Joseph. Nice, nice, place. Friendly staff, warm doctors, soft chairs, coffee and tea available, etc.

Yes, there was a cost for all this but, as I sat on my stool, my mind wandered to a place called Mount Hope.

I wondered if it were possible, maybe not now, for some kind of fee (maybe half or whatever) to be implemented for citizens’ use of the public hospitalsthose who are unable to afford medical insurance-rather than facing the behemoth that is called private medical care.

Now, don’t think for one moment that I am knocking Mount Hope with its scarce resources and overworked staff-no, not at all. I think that given all their constraints, they do a good job, once you get past the door and actually see a doctor.

Of course, one may say well, Mount Hope is free. Yes-but, I tell you, that ‘freeness’ has a heavy psychological cost attached. Ask anyone who has to go there.

I believe, in this day and age, some kind of alternative option could be made possible and our health authorities need to think about these possibilities.

At least we may well cover the basic costs of certain items and thus help our ministry reduce the tremendous financial outlay for this ‘freeness’.

Dave Sadaphal