City hotel perfect fit for the Royal
HOBART’s Fountainside medi hotel could continue life after being a Covid-quarantine hotel as the Royal Hobart Hospital’s step down hospital wing . Post treatment patients quite often occupy “a bed” when the patient is possibly only in need of regular observations with minor nursing attention till they are fit to return home . In many such cases access to the medi-hotel, 100m from K Block, would release beds sooner enabling the RHH to further progress its waiting lists.
An additional beneficial function for the medi-hotel is in the possible role of offering an accommodation option for families who have the need to stay near the RHH while a family member is receiving treatment . The RHH is the best equiped in Tasmania for certain complicated procedures and these can require a reasonable time for the intrastate patient and support family to be in or near the RHH. The Ronald McDonald House, in lower Collins St, offers a similar family support when a young child is the patient.
Chris Merridew
Sandy Bay
LEGITIMATE ISSUES
CONGRATULATIONS to all the Tasmanian citizens brave enough to speak out about what is happening in our waterways, Gerald Castles (Talking Point, October 7). I submitted a response to the legislative inquiry into finfish farms and yet one year on I am still waiting to read their findings.
I now read in the recent 10-year plan the public wasn’t consulted on that companies are continuing to write their own reports for the EPA to sign off on, and the latest scorecard from the EPA looks all rosy despite community complaints and concerns. The plan claims consultation by the companies with community! Yet our government refuses to address legitimate issues that the community raises over this industry — a government that calls its community “dark forces” and seems determined to destroy our brand and waterways.
We need the legislative inquiry findings to be released.
FERRY TRAFFIC
S. Neill Bellerive
MAY I make a few suggestions to those responsible for traffic at Ferry Rd, Kettering, which is out of hand and dangerous. Firstly, the kerb running from one end to the other on the southern side needs to be painted yellow (no standing) accompanied with a few “no standing” signs on the path. Secondly, the middle line separating eastand west-bound traffic needs to be a continuous white line, with white directional arrows (east and west) painted on the road. Thirdly, the far left lane (travelling east) be clearly marked with a yellow line painted on the road for ferry traffic only, with clearways marked for jetty and marina access.
Then we have the parking problem. May I suggest an access road down to the water directly east of the ferry terminal to a lower carpark formed by tonnes of rock in the water and water’s edge and reentering Ferry Rd further with a roundabout at the end of Ferry Rd to continue heading west.
Andrew Clark
Kettering
CAR USE
USE of a car is often determined by a lack of public transport. I use the bus when I can but need to drive if no service. Planning for the future when I am no longer able to drive will involve many taxi trips. When
showering praise on private car use, Bob Cotgrove supports those who may not need or use the bus. But it does nothing for those who cannot drive, a large group including the young and elderly, those with a disability or no finances to afford a car or no convenient parking. And what if you want a second beer with your mates? Better than sitting in a traffic jam is relaxing in a comfortable bus or ferry. Bring on more ferries and bus services. Good for the environment too.
Rob Hill Howrah
GENDER AGENDA
CONGRATULATIONS Charles Wooley for an excellent opinion piece (Mercury, October 8) on the proposed November forum on issues to do with women’s rights and transgender to be held at the Hobart Town Hall. Finally, an adult and reasoned voice to the public discourse. It could be due to our common good public education in Launceston during our youth in the 1960s where freedom of expression was a given and respected, I agree with him totally. The battles won by and sacrifices by Germain Greer and others for equal rights in the workplace and the home should not be dismissed with name calling by some people using cultural revolution-type tactics.
I will attend the forum to be informed and will encourage others too, subject to places being available and Covid restrictions.
Jeff Briscoe Hobart alderman
HOSPITAL WASTE
THE money wasting rears it’s ugly head again at $37 million, to spend where, yes, you guessed, the Mersey Hospital. We have lost count how many upgrades and millions have been spent at that hospital, while others miss out. The taxpayer dollar drain is astronomical. Gaylene Dudman
Burnie
ILLEGAL IMPRISONMENT
WHILE agreeing with William Holdsworth (Letters, October 5) when he says “Israel simply ignores UN resolutions concerning collective punishment, torture (and) jailing minors,” Mr Holdsworth forgets to mention Australian governments have done the same, with long-term illegal imprisonment and denial of human rights of desperate people simply seeking refuge.
Mike Radburn
Sandy Bay