Ramping rates not acceptable
HEALTH EMERGENCY
I WAS an ambulance volunteer in a rural area for 20 years and the current situation with ramping is appalling. Volunteer ambulance officers are well trained and capable of coping with almost everything they find, but knowing a paramedic is on the way to take over and manage care and transport, was always good. The state of affairs where seven, eight, nine or more ambulances are ramped, waiting to leave patients in the Emergency Department, is alarming. Ambulance officers often bear the brunt of frustration from families and patients for a situation outside their control. The Government must have a good hard think about how any of the MPs might feel should they ever need an ambulance to be told “we don’t have one, we’ll get to you when we can”. This is not acceptable. For those waiting outside the hospital in an ambulance in need of admission, this is not acceptable. People may die waiting, this is not acceptable. criticise ramping and bed shortages but lacks a plan. One solution is to revisit Kevin Rudd’s 24 hour GP super clinic proposals for Clarence, Glenorchy, Kingston and Sorell. The Federal election is an opportunity for Labor to put our money where their mouth is and commit to funding desperately needed clinics.
Preventive care
WHAT a breath of fresh air it was to read Sue Hickey’s Talking Point (“Circuitbreaker the only answer,” December 5), particularly her observation that there is so much low hanging fruit. One area that does not get the attention it deserves is preventive healthcare. If we could improve the health of our community there would be a lesser need for services of the RHH, ramped ambulances and exhausted, desperate staff. Why is it the State Government seems unable or unwilling to prevent people falling ill in the first place. Sue Hickey lists but a few needs that could be addressed — diabetes, obesity, mental health, age-related complications and poor health choices. I would add smoking and lack of exercise. Surely the RHH should be the last resort not the first stop.
Megaphone for action
NOT surprisingly Premier Will Hodgman dismissed Sue Hickey’s suggestion for a review into the health system, saying “I don’t believe a talkfest is what’s required” and “Sue Hickey has a megaphone and is entitled to use it” ( Mercury, December 6). Premier Hodgman said he was more interested in action than talk. Here he has a team member calling for a whole of government approach, with health professionals, for a review to expedite solutions. Her megaphone is action. It is coming from a person from the private sector, where action and time are money, whereas many politicians have only known the parallel universe of the political bubble, where there is more talk than action. The Premier said “he was unperturbed by her criticism”. Tunnel vision to say the least.
Saying it like it is
READER Bill Sorell asserts Sue Hickey is self-promoting, because people he speaks to are sick and tired of her frequent outbursts. All I can think of, he doesn’t speak to many people. Sue, your preparedness to say it as it really is, is a breath of fresh air, and as far as I can see and hear, most of the state are behind you. In the words of Don Chipp, “keep the bastards honest”.
Big new hospital
I FIND it incredible Sue Hickey is slating the Tasmanian Government for lack of health services. She and Sarah Lovell should take a ride to the corner of Collins and Campbell streets and have a look at the big building nearing completion. It’s a new modern hospital. Maybe this pair of critics have a magic wand that can create new hospitals. Well done government.
Posh nosh a bit rich
IT’S a bit rich to use the words “posh nosh” in regards to prisoner complaints of unappetising food. I get that it’s a fad to use as many puns as possible, but the implication is that prisoners are asking for something unreasonable. Surely it would be beneficial to their mental wellbeing to have nourishing food.
Yawning fuel gap
ON November 25 at a petrol station in Melbourne we paid $1.42.9 for 95-octane fuel, and on November 27 on return to home base we paid $1.73.9 for the same at a Hobart area service station. A lot of freight, or are we being ripped off by the oil companies again?
Church sale compensation
I DEMAND that Anglican Bishop of Tasmania, the Right Reverend Richard Condie, provide details on how he is going to provide compensation to the families who will experience trauma with the sale of the churches where their loved ones are at rest.
Who could blame nurses
THE nursing profession is not generally renowned for industrial action but given the worsening scenario in the RHH and particularly in the ED who could blame Australia’s lowest paid for taking this action (“Nurses hit streets for better pay deal”, Mercury. December 7).