Concerns for welfare of patients in Central Otago
I AM writing to highlight the completely unsatisfactory situation in Central Otago, regarding withdrawal of appropriate overnight urgent medical care.
Patients in Central are now the only ones I am aware of that have to pay to be seen at a ‘‘public’’ hospital, and may be forced to drive up to several hours to be seen.
There is no oncall doctor available after 10pm.
St John has put its hand up to be the backstop, but I already know of sick patients who have had a prolonged wait for crew from a neighbouring town to arrive.
There has been little or no response to my inquiries from those at the table, as to when this may be resolved. There has been some attempted mediation, including from Mayor Tim Cadogan, but there seems no end in sight to this mess.
I would encourage residents to question their doctors, the Southern DHB, WellSouth, and their local MP why Central residents, including my own family, are placed in this position.
The handful of patients that need to be seen overnight are genuinely sick, and cannot wait until morning. Some may require admission but many do not.
Due to what I see as my legal and ethical obligations, I remain on call overnight for my patients, despite having funding withdrawn that was supposed to provide for this service. Dr Greg White
Cromwell
Tamworth
I NOTICE in today’s Today in History column (ODT, 9.11.18) that you have listed Tamworth in Australia as the first town to be lit by electricity in the southern hemisphere.
I have always thought Reefton in New Zealand was the first, and indeed a few years ago took umbrage with an Australian author who quoted Launceston as holding that honour.
In the footsteps of Phar Lap and pavlova, I rebuked her and indeed received a letter from her publisher acknowledging I was correct.
When searching the web, I see that Reefton is quoted as August 1888 and Tamworth as November 1888.
Neil Hall
Mosgiel
Brexit
IT cuts across families, communities, classes, religious beliefs and political persuasions. That’s why Brexit is and will remain such a problem.
Which is why the longsuffering people of the UK will be delighted to hear the editor (ODT, 17.11.18) has the solution for the Brexit headache. Simple, really: the decision was foolish and illusionary and they should have another vote.
Well, we’d all agree democracy is irritating at times, especially when you don’t like the people’s choice. Christopher Horan
Lake Hawea