Hospital: do it once, do it right first time

THE ongoing saga of the new Dunedin hospital debacle continues.

Politicians are trying to justify funding cuts with political obfuscation. Comments following a recent press release include:

‘‘Least impact on clinical services.’’ Translated: the cuts will impact services, but which ones?

‘‘Changes are being made in collaboration with clinicians.” Translation: clinicians are being asked to prioritise which services to choose that will have the least impact on patients.

It appears that the laboratory space will be smaller than what they currently have — how does that make any sense? — and the latest little gem is doing away with parking. The mind boggles as to how that will work.

Just build a hospital for the future. Not one which will already be too small by the time it is built and that is fit for purpose.

Too much money has already been spent on alterations. Put other projects on hold temporarily but just do what was promised.

Do it once and do it right.

Jill Young Geraldine [Abridged]

AAMany letters in these columns attest to a despair, and also a sense of impotence, in the face of this bureaucratic intransigence.

Is there another way in which our masters might be moved? Is there a blowtorch available to apply to their collective belly? Very well then. I’m putting up my hand. I wish to declare an interest in standing as a candidate, in the upcoming general election, with the hospital a key plank, along with the other two desiderata noted above.

I shall, therefore, present myself to the public, at a meeting as advertised under the Public Notices, as a way to test the waters.

If there’s a decent turnout, and a good sense of support, I’d then be in, boots and all, and would stand as a candidate for Parliament.

Dr Mac Gardner

Dunedin

A blessed roof

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