Risks behind the statistics

SATURDAY’S article gives insight into the situations confronting people requiring urgent public hospital care in Tasmania ( Mercury, March 10). Statistics provided by the Australian Medical Association reveal that nationwide per capita bed numbers for people 65 and over have reached a 23-year low whilst demands for hospital services grow year on year. Older people with complex medical problems and those with mental health issues are especially at risk. About two thirds of Emergency Department visits are completed in four hours. Less than 20 per cent of patients requiring admission from the ED can be found an inpatient bed inside four hours. This statistic for the RHH is amongst the worst in the nation and explained by longstanding bed shortages. Long stays in the ED are associated with complications and higher risk of in-hospital mortality.

I get regular feedback from patients and family members about the kindness and quality of care provided by RHH staff. RHH staff have been magnificent in severely trying conditions. Substantial efforts are being made to attend to deep seated problems in public hospitals. It requires engagement between senior clinicians (nurses, doctors and allied health professionals), hospital administrators and the highest levels of the Department of Health and Human Services. The major political parties prioritised health as their number one issue for the election. They are to be commended for that. Now for careful planning and effective action.

So many gems

TO see on a map the large number of Hobart buildings sold for development is very worrying ( Mercury, March 10), particularly as we have a Liberal Government flushed with victory, with an agenda hidden from public scrutiny.

Hobart has many buildings which are gems, often not grand like the Treasury, but vitally important to our view of our city. One of my favourites is the terrace on the corner of Elizabeth and Warwick streets which has delightful bas relief faces along its facade. Yes, it needs TLC but I dread to think what disastrous high rise will be erected.

We only need five MPs

I TOTALLY agree with Roger Wolfe: “Politicians have managed to screw things up in the first place by not having the experience to run things properly” (Letters, March 12). When I read the Mercury’s profiles of candidates standing for election I shuddered in disbelief at the quality of their experience. And we have people regularly advocating an increase in politician numbers. I propose only five politicians, the leading vote-getters in each electorate, to run our state of 500,000, with department heads overseen by the five elected.

Those five, being Hodgman, Bacon, White, Gutwein and Rockliff to work as a team in running the state. No MLCs to slow decisions down, or stuff things up. A bit of fine-tuning is required, and it would spell the end of party politics, which would be a godsend to all, and the money saved would be astronomical, enough over 10 years to cure all our woes.

Loss of wonderful tree

THE impending demolition of the Forestry Tasmania extension and its fabulous atrium has attracted quite a lot of comment, and rightly so.

The removal of a spectacular palm tree from 129 Sandy Bay Rd seems to have slipped through under the radar. This wonderful tree, growing through a relatively modern building, was a feature of Sandy Bay, and now it is gone.

Faith in Upper House

IT is times like this that I am grateful for the Upper House in Tasmania. Will Hodgman’s intention to change gun laws is abhorrent, ham-fisted and reeks of postelection smugness. Fortunately, I believe and indeed would expect the Legislative Council will do what the vast majority of Tasmanians would demand it do; throw the legislation out and make it clear to the state Liberals they will only support sensible and progressive changes to our laws.

Re-route the rail

WHILST I support Glen Pears’ sentiments with respect to passenger rail (Letters, March 12), I take issue with the proposition that “Standard gauge line would be required … to enable faster and more efficient services between Hobart and Burnie to begin with” and “narrow gauge is no longer suitable for our needs”. It has often been suggested Tasmania’s narrow track gauge is an impediment to fast and efficient rail. Track gauge (width) is irrelevant. The route (especially north from Hobart) and resultant curvature is the problem. Australia’s fastest train, Queensland’s QR Tilt Train, operates on exactly the same track gauge as Tasmania. Visit South Africa to see some of the heaviest trains in the world, on the same track gauge as Tasmania.

Ironically, the wider the gauge in Australia, the slower and more defective the track tends to get (visit country Victoria). The key to a more efficient freight network and viable commercial passenger network requires total re-routing of the 19th century goat-track of the main South Line between Brighton and Antill Ponds to a new modern engineered line along the Jordan River Valley.