Bravo to all the excellent support workers

I READ with interest your story concerning support workers and the people they care for (ODT, 9.2.19).

During my husband’s recent illness, we both greatly appreciated the help provided by support workers. I also remember that the first thing they did on arrival at our house was to ‘‘clock in’’: apparently they are only paid for time spent with clients.

Your article mentions ‘‘the pressure of the allocated time’’. Despite this pressure, we never experienced an occasion when a support worker shirked or rushed a task.

Ms Cockerell, the support worker in the article, is quoted as having 10 clients that day; this implies a lot of travel in between paid time. I hope that the invaluable and essential care provided by our support workers is not being given at their own expense — be that expense financial or in their own time. DO encourage the current mayor and his councillor cronies not to stand for reelection. Posit the idea that cycle lanes can be returned to parking spaces quite easily; that bus hubs choked with large, hardtomanoeuvre buses, can revert to being just streets; that even new hospital sites can be changed if found to be unsuitable for 11storey buildings, that electric scooters travelling at 50kmh are not a good mix with pedestrian traffic using footpaths. I. Williams

Dunedin

[Abridged]

Reunion

Dorothy Kerin

Normanby

Council elections

Flag Swamp School: A 150th reunion will be held on October 26, 2019 (Labour Weekend).

More information on Flag Swamp School 150th Reunion Facebook page or email fss150reunion@gmail.com .....................................

BIBLE READING: Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. — Peter 3:8.