Public health falls short
TONIGHT I watched a television interview with Health Minister Sussan Ley. Has Ms Ley had a real look at how the service really works or exists?
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I was unfortunate to become ill on a Sunday and require an ambulance to convey me to Wodonga emergency department. On arrival there were no beds available and I stayed on the ambulance trolley for 45 minutes before a bed was available. I saw overworked doctors and staff treating patients at the nursing desks.
I was then taken by ambulance to Albury hospital, where the story was the same. Once again I was on an ambulance trolley waiting for a bed to become available. Eventually I was taken to an examination room bed and remained there all night.
An elderly patient in the bed next to me was discharged at 2:30 am.
This bed was then used by another patient on an ambulance stretcher for more than two hours in a queue of other ambulance patients waiting to be seen. I was supposed to go to a ward, but the hospital was full.
With Albury Wodonga Health servicing a huge area I find this disgusting and want to know why is there not more funding into our health services to eliminate this shortfall.
I have private insurance and my specialist requested my transfer to Albury Wodonga Private Hospital.
I say a huge thanks to all the staff that looked after me at all of the hospitals and am thankful that I have private health insurance.
There are many who haven't and have to put up with a sub-standard service from professional people who are working in a terrible system. I challenge Ms Ley to go and have a look and then tell me this system is working.
PATRICIA JACKAMAN, Wodonga
Take focus off Cathy
HOW about a picture of a soldier? ("Cathy in the Outback", The Border Mail, August, 31). Cathy McGowan was visiting an Aboriginal community that is part of the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program.
As a soldier myself, and a sapper, I am very familiar with this program. I would have thought the half page picture of Cathy could have possibly made room for a picture of a soldier, or some local Aboriginal residents, and some of the work they are doing.
I presume your reporter did not travel there to get the picture, so I guess this photo was provided by Cathy herself. AACAP does not exist solely for the purpose of politicians’ publicity shots.
I also take issue with the comment – no doubt provided by Cathy – that Sophie Mirabella was "not on the list" of pollies on the program. I can advise your readers that Sophie is extremely well-acquainted with the Army, including on actual operations.
During my deployment to the North East as part of the Army's contingent during the 2003 Alpine bushfires, Sophie visited many of our teams, on the job, on the fire lines and at the headquarters.
She knows exactly what sappers do. She knows exactly how a bulldozer puts in a firebreak, in the smoke and the dust. I was just very glad at the time that my commanding officer never found out about the unofficial on-the-job training Sophie received. But perhaps he would forgive the soldiers involved: he is, after all, her husband.
Perhaps your reporters could be a more critical of Cathy McGowan's press releases.
RAY HARKNESS, Wooragee
Action needed on train
MORE than eight years and V/Line can't show any improvement in train services on the Border.
Surely someone's head should roll. Why hasn't Mr Aplin or Ms Ley got on the phone and given a diplomatic blast to V/Line?
After all, they are supposed to represent the people of NSW who use V/Line. What a joke. I bet the men who built the line with just a pick and shovel would be laughing in their graves. Action we need.