What use is private insurance?

ROYAL HOBART HOSPITAL

I WAS recently admitted to the Royal Hobart Hospital. Calvary had no bed available and the Hobart Private Hospital denied admission giving the reason as my being “too sick”. I am now recovered and most appreciative of the care by staff of the RHH under the most trying conditions. While not privy to the precise circumstances at Hobart Private, it appears the private hospital sector might reasonably be accused of failing to meet community service obligations and contributing to the crisis situation of the Royal Hobart Hospital. As the Hobart Private interconnects with RHH, patients could be taken for tests needing equipment that may not be available at the Private.

There would seem little point in the elderly maintaining costly private hospital health cover if they are denied access. I am conscious of the problems and difficulties confronting the Minister of Health and his department but perhaps they should be engaging with the private sector to ensure those with medical conditions and private health cover who could be cared for in private facilities are not diverted to the RHH. surgery which was performed by nonspecialist surgeons. An expensive trawl around 11 specialists, which included CT ad MRI scans was unproductive. They couldn’t help me because I have been irreparably injured. I am 100 times sicker than before my operation, completely disabled, in permanent agony, housebound and sleep-deprived. My quality of life has been destroyed. I have been granted a level 4 home care package because I can no longer care for myself. I choose to stay alive only because of my devotion to my husband and pets. Basically I’m stuffed. Life is a terrible struggle and I am furious.

Need new egg carton

IT’S a shame Tasmanians need to organise trips to the mainland for hospital treatment. The problems with the RHH being overcrowded and lacking beds are simple to resolve. We have an egg carton which can comfortably fit 12 eggs but we are trying to squeeze an extra 12 eggs into the same carton and thereby damaging some good eggs. Unless we provide beds the problems at the RHH will continue. Convert the City Hall building it into an emergency outpatients. It sits dormant half the time. Perhaps such a transformation will do wonders for our city and the RHH.

Fuelling diaster

THE woes of the RHH prompted a thought ( Mercury, 20 September). Politicians worry that action might cause a disaster, so prefer inaction to action, and A new way to have your say themercury.com.au readers have a new way to have their say. It’s free to use, just register and have your say. For more details and to register, visit the website. struggle to understand that in real life, action is often needed to prevent disasters. It is reassuring to know the people filling our planes with fuel are not politicians and always ensure planes have more fuel than needed to reach their destination. It is amusing and alarming to imagine what might happen if we allowed our politicians to fill planes with fuel.

I’m sure that at the inquest they’d argue that providing only 80 per cent of the fuel needed was a good idea because the plane would be lighter and use less fuel and with empty tanks, it’d easily glide the last few miles to land safely.

Superb treatment

IN response to some of the letters illustrating a negative tone toward staff at the emergency department at the Royal I feel compelled to respond. I have had the misfortune to attend recently and ended up in intensive care for two days. Yes there was a wait before being admitted (sadly possibly due to people treating the department as their “resident doctor”) but the staff were nothing but professional and efficient under obviously stressful conditions. Treatment and attention once into the system was nothing but superb. I have so much admiration for all the staff. This was reinforced when sadly I had a brother and aunty in the Royal at the same time, with the same (ultimately) terminal ailment. The treatment and care over a number of months was nothing short of magnificent. I am sure there are many people with the same experience as I.

Aged care reform

AS the editorial “Aged care fix is needed” ( Mercury, September 17) notes, our aged care system is in need of serious reform. If that reform does not occur, and the aged “care” choices continue to be confusing, expensive and of poor quality, euthanasia may become the best choice.

Appalling

COULD the Mercury please show a photo of the partly constructed Legacy bridge so readers are familiar with the comments by Martin Haley (Letters, September 19). It really is an appalling structure in the wrong place. Blind Freddy would know that it is totally wrong.

Waste action

IN response to Betty Browning’s comments about inadequate waste services in the Glenorchy City Council area (Letters, September 14), I would like to let her and others know that I have started a petition calling on the council to provide a green waste service, biannual hard waste kerbside collection, weekly rubbish collection and discounted tip access for pensioners.

Bold and free

IN days of old, councils were bold, and stipends weren’t invented; Councillors served their time for a glass of wine; And ratepayers walked around contented.