Staggered by politicians’ broken hospital promises
Where is the money coming from for a third medical school to be based in Hamilton when there is not enough money to complete the Dunedin hospital, thus putting the current, highly prestigious, internationally recognised medical school at risk?
Does no-one understand the huge area that this hospital serves? The present hospital is chronically short of beds even now with some patients having to wait for hours and then some to be cared for in ambulances as there is no room anywhere else.
Then look at the government mentioning all the other hospitals that need money, of course all in the north, and for much smaller areas.
It seems as if things in the north are far more important to this government than anything in the South.
Don’t we matter?
Too far away from Wgtn
As a person without a university degree(s) and who has been working all my life, I am always flabbergasted with the ease the government is promising and most of the time not honouring their promise when they are voted in.
We built our own business from scratch and did well and are now retired.
We always, when it came to quotes, made sure that the quote was good and we made sure that the quoted price was not overrun.
In the case of the Dunedin hospital you know in advance that the building cost would rise.
In 2017 it was $1.4 billion and now the estimate is $3 billion.
You know in advance that the cost will rise during a long-term project like our hospital.
In seven years you know the price for materials will rise especially after the Covid crisis.
I am sure that everything in their own backyard is OK.
Dunedin is far away from Parliament.
Every time there is a change of government it seems that the previous lot can't keep the process going and under control so that the next government can just follow up and finish the job.
I was under the impression that most people in government were lawyers and accountants, but I was wrong.
They should be proud of the fact that we have the newest and most advanced hospital in the southern hemisphere.
Are they looking and trying to get volunteers to do the work?
I am 72 years old and perhaps can still push a wheelbarrow.
Alarming weasel words
On September 25 I watched Matt Doocey answer questions in Parliament about a decision on Dunedin hospital.
The weasel-word answers were alarming.
To rub salt in the wound Southland MP Joseph Mooney was clearly in shot appearing completely unconcerned about a situation which directly affects all of his constituents.
Today I read Mark Patterson's column (The Star, 26.9.24) lauding New Zealand First's gains for Dunedin as part of the coalition government and with no mention of the hospital.
I ask again where are they, and their southern coalition colleagues, in this direct attack on the health of the people of the South?
All about the votes
I, like many others, am disgusted with this government’s lack of keeping its election promise.
Stating Nelson Hospital and other regions are in competition with Dunedin is a ridiculous statement (Nelson’s building is actually younger than Dunedin’s).
How long have we been waiting for this hospital to be built?
Isn’t it a coincidence that Nelson is a marginal seat held by Labour with a 26 vote majority?
A new hospital there could swing it to National.
With a down-sized hospital, are we going to be able to train the increased numbers of new doctors and surgeons that this country will need?
Are we going to be able to get the operations and other services that a growing elderly population will need?
Is the overrun oncology department going to be further overrun by increased numbers of lung cancer patients because this government kowtows to the tobacco industry?
Will the Emergency Department be able to handle in a timely manner the increased number and severity of road accident injuries with the proposed speed limit increases? I doubt it.
Let’s get writing
Might I respectfully suggest that every person in the Southern district who has an illness or disability etc of more than 12 months duration and who has been unable to get suitable treatment, write a letter (not an email) of preferably not more than one page long, outlining your story i.e. your medical problem and what has happened (or not) to date.
Postage is free if you address it to Health Minister Dr Shane Reti, Freepost Parliament, Private Bag 18 888, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160.
We must show what the state of the health system is like here in the South and the personal stories of the many thousands who cannot get treatment and as a consequence are living with a reduced quality of life as a result may just wake up the "powers that be".
Let’s get together, put pen to paper, and show them what the situation really is.
Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: editor@odt.co.nz
