Modernised monarchy Diana’s legacy

REGARDING your editorial ‘‘Queen of hearts’’ (ODT, 4.9.17): 20 years on and the legacy of Princess Diana resonates still with us. She both modernised and humanised the monarchy and gave her sons the consciousness that being a prince and a future king should be a transformative force for the good of the people they were born to serve. Both princes have continued their mother’s work supporting the homeless, those affected with mental health issues and disadvantaged youth — to name but a few. Assuming their support does not waver then the reign of King William V of New Zealand will see that legacy realised.

Mark Ryan

Maryhill

ACC surgery

AFTER reading in the ODT (2.9.17) about the frustration of the Queenstown builder having to wait several days for his broken arm to be operated on, it got me thinking. Why is it that in the past couple of years all ACC cases requiring surgery are now being operated on at our public hospital when before that they were always sent to Mercy Hospital with no waiting times at all? Surely, if these cases are covered by ACC then this should not be at a cost to the SDHB but in fact a cost to ACC, and more so would take a huge burden off the SDHB, enabling many on waiting lists to be cared for so much quicker.

Lois Paterson

Broad Bay [Chris Ritchie, media contact (acting), Accident Compensation Corporation, replies: ‘‘Surgical services are provided on behalf of ACC by both public and private hospitals. However, the nature of an injury will determine the most appropriate service pathway to follow, for example acute injuries would be routinely managed by public hospital services. Irrespective of the pathway followed, public or private, injuryrelated services are funded by ACC.’’]