William Wolfenden wants to take hospital management back to
pre-Medicare days, when doctors were the only health professionals
worthy of consultation, to ensure their lofty position in the
hierarchy (Letters, March 8-9). The management of hospitals by
doctors, for doctors, did not work in the 20th century. Why should
it work now?
Dr Wolfenden blames the failure of hospital management by
administrators rather than doctors for the decline in hospital
care. I would like to know whether he set out on his life’s path to
be an expert physician, which he no doubt is, or an accomplished
administrator with expertise in financial planning, human
resources, hotel services, evidence-based medicine and
accreditation, or whether he completed a master’s in health service
management.
In the Bathurst Hospital shambles it appears NSW Health did not
consult any health professional or architect, just the finance
department. Dr Wolfenden rightly decries the lack of consultation
with doctors, yet there has been no mention of the failure to
consult nurses.
There are few aspects of a hospital that do not affect nursing.
Who knows better than nurses the space requirements, traffic
patterns, bathroom and toilet usage and design environments that
are sympathetic for patients, their families and hospital workers,
and that ensure better health outcomes at less cost? While doctors
may spend 20 minutes a day with their patients, nurses are there
constantly.
When will health departments learn that the prerequisite for
quality health care, whether in acute care hospitals, the community
or aged facilities, is a team effort? No speciality has the abiding
authority on good patient care and healthy outcomes. This requires
doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists,
nutritionists, cleaners, pharmacists, architects and policymakers
to work towards a common goal, not to fiercely defend their vested
interests to the exclusion of all others.
Let us look forwards, not backwards, to better partnerships for
health service delivery and put the patient first, not last, on the
planning agenda.
Maryan Heffernan Narrabeen
Taking from the most vulnerable is unconscionable
It was with shock and disappointment that we heard of the
proposal to stop funding carer bonuses. We know they were never
part of forward estimates, but they were a recognition of the
contribution made by carers, as well as a much-needed financial
benefit for many living below the poverty line.
It would take more than $30 billion a year for governments to
replace carers’ services. While not in the paid workforce, people
with disabilities and their carers are no less “working families”
than those referred to by the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and his
colleagues during the election campaign - just not so well off and
with no superannuation.
Laraine Toms President, Carers NSW, Sydney
Before a final decision is made by the Rudd Government on
whether to snatch back the carer bonuses, perhaps his minister
might like to spend 24 hours in my household to see the
difficulties and associated costs involved in caring for two
disabled family members. That research would confirm that carers
should be generously supported, if only to save both the federal
and state governments billion of dollars.
Stan Fildes Mona Vale
Two interesting articles in Saturday’s Herald. The first
reveals that Kevin Rudd proposes to slash payments to pensioners
and their carers. The second states that he is increasing aid to
Papua New Guinea. Thank you for explaining his priorities.
Paul Atroshenko Waverley
Wayne Swan has managed to be both fiscally irresponsible and
mean: handing out more than $30 billion in tax cuts at a time of
higher inflation and rapidly rising interest rates, while cutting
the carers’ benefit to save a few hundred million dollars.
George Finlay Balaclava (Vic)
Is this the “compassionate” ALP I’ve voted for all my life?
Surely there are a million other cuts the Government could make
other than on those least able to help themselves. What about the
great lurk of negative gearing? Or the overly generous benefits
former politicians help themselves to? As for the promised tax
cuts, which offer no benefit for those on a pension, they should be
deferred for at least three years or dropped altogether.
I realise cuts have to be made, but slashing and burning the
most vulnerable is unconscionable.
Jennifer Owen Baulkham Hills
As a carer for my war veteran partner, I was counting on that
$1600 to help us pay the winter bills and put shoes on the feet of
our son. My partner lost his ability to support his family in the
service of his country. Is this how you are planning to treat the
families of the men you send to Afghanistan?
Margot Clifford Kaleen (ACT)
Labor prime ministers have historically surrounded themselves
with complete idiots. With the proposed axing of the carers’ bonus,
Kevin Rudd has gone one better: he has surrounded himself with
complete bastards.
Matt Petersen Randwick
If the elderly and carers are to lose entitlements, can we
assume that John Howard’s endangered orang-utans will have to make
sacrifices as well?
Joe Dwyer Rose Bay
Cool heads must prevail in the face of provocation
The murder of eight students in Jerusalem by an Arab Israeli was
sickening, as was the gloating from certain Palestinian quarters
(”After the slaughter, sickening jubilation”, March 8-9).
However, Israelis such as the Prime Minister’s spokesman, Mark
Regev, should not get too self-righteous. For every Israeli who
dies in this conflict, 40 Palestinians are killed. In 1994 the
US-born Israeli Baruch Goldstein slaughtered 29 Arabs and wounded
150 in a shooting rampage in a mosque. To this day his grave,
complete with a shrine-like landscaped prayer area and a plaque
praising his actions, is a pilgrimage site for right-wing
Israelis.
Andrew Worssam Bondi
Mordechai Sher (Letters, March 8-9) claims Hamas is not
apportioned any blame for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. That is
plainly wrong, as Hamas is often denounced by governments and
non-government organisations. In fact, it is frequently held up as
the only problem. “Remove Hamas,” they shout, “and all will be
better.”
Sorry, but as deplorable as Hamas is, it is a product of the
situation. Desperate people resort to desperate measures, so the
more Israel tries to tighten its grip on Gaza, the more
Palestinians will slip through its fingers. Only better conditions
for all Palestinians - and that means, among other things, an end
to the blockade of Gaza - will see to the removal of Hamas and an
end to the rocket attacks and suicide bombings.
James Kite Drummoyne
Alan Ramsey’s column denotes that April Fool’s Day has arrived
early this year (”Don’t mention the war as Israel lauded”, March
8-9): “It was also one of those extremely rare occasions that the
easily intimidated Australian Parliament, ever mindful of Jewish
financial support of party coffers, has debated the Middle East at
all.”
Curse those Zionist paymasters! I always thought it was property
developers who duped us into focusing on our own backyard.
Peter Ness Bardwell Valley
Alan Ramsey alleges without evidence that wealthy Jews unduly
influence Australia’s Middle East policy. In reality, the small
number of Jewish businessmen who make major donations to political
parties appear to be motivated by business interests as much as by
specifically Jewish concerns. None have gone on record as linking
their donations to Middle East policy. To be sure, Jewish communal
bodies lobby on behalf of Israel. However, there is no evidence
that Jewish organisations per se have ever donated to Australian
political parties.
Philip Mendes Kew (Victoria)
For 60 years Australia has indeed been a supporter of Israel,
but also a constructive champion of the peace process. If Ramsey
had read previous bipartisan motions relating to Israel, he would
see that they have also consistently called for the right of
Palestinians to self-determination. What we need to focus on are
tangible and supportive measures to eradicate the type of hatred
Saturday’s paper depicted, not finger-pointing rants.
David Faktor Bondi
Tokenism rampant
Can Verity Firth “wean NSW off its energy addiction” (”Can this
woman turn us off?”, March 8-9)?
In a word, no. In the Iemma-Costa clique the main game is: a)
build a new coal-fired power station in time to prevent the
electoral death that would result if the power faltered for one
moment in the air-conditioned mansions of Baulkham Hills; and b)
avoid any energy conservation measures serious enough to scare
bidders for a privatised electricity industry.
So they appoint an unknown 34-year-old, in Parliament for less
than a year, to lead the charge on climate change. Talk about
tokenism. No doubt they will keep her busy writing policies that
the big departments will do nothing to implement.
Geoff Dawson Narrabundah (ACT)
Sparing the child
Mirren Palmer (Letters, March 8-9) is right that private schools
are often more successful at dealing with disruptive students. The
method they use is called expulsion. Unfortunately this is not
readily available to public schools. They have an obligation to
make sure all children, including disruptive ones, have access to
an education.
Mary Lawson Mortdale
The worst kind of example
In the article “It’s a crime: how footy heroes go bad” (March 8-9)
the reporter writes that “behind the drunken antics and rape
allegations, there is a darker history of links between sportsmen
and serious crime”. Rape is not a serious crime? With attitudes
like this, how are those same “heroes” ever going to get the
message about their treatment of women? And what about the example
set to other men who want to emulate their “exploits”?
Trish Wiltshire Worrigee
I was dismayed, to say the least, that on International Women’s
Day your editorial likened fake virgin olive oil to two
celebrities, branding them “blond, cheap and unsavoury” (”Virgin
oil upturned”, March 8-9). Misogynist behaviour is not likely to
decrease when the Herald implicitly encourages it.
Elaine Diffey Glebe
A sadly foreseeable tragedy
I was very sad to read of the death of Peter Eagle, but not
surprised (”Man killed on his way to Superboat Grand Prix”,
smh.com.au, March 8). The harbour has become unbearable on some
days with the increasing number of powerful motor boats. As the
owner of an older-style wooden yacht I avoid parts of it, such as
Bradleys Head, where power-boat skippers seem to love to roar
around the point, presuming no one else could be there. Without
commenting on the circumstances of Eagle’s crash, so many owners of
these boats seem to lack basic seamanship, courtesy or common
sense. When will NSW Maritime realise the risk these types of boats
are creating and introduce a reasonable speed limit (I suggest 12
knots) so that everyone can enjoy the harbour?
Philip Bull Marrickville
Sydney Harbour is a busy commercial and recreational waterway,
especially at weekends. To close it for a day of races by so-called
superboats is disgraceful. Let them race where they will cause no
danger or disruption to others. Lake Eyre, for example.
Neil Radford Balmain East
Don’t blame the doctors
Geoff Dunsford (Letters, March 8-9) needs to explain how doctors’
bills are driving the increase in health fund premiums. Health
funds have their own nominated fee that they will pay for each
service provided by a doctor. But if a doctor’s fee exceeds the
health fund fee, most of the funds pay out much less than the
nominated fee. Furthermore, health fund indexation of the benefits
paid for doctors’ fees has been a lower percentage for the past few
years than the increase in premiums the government has granted
them.
Dr Andrew Wright Neutral Bay
The right man for the role at NIDA
As a past chairman of the board of the National Institute of
Dramatic Art for 13 years (1975-88) and a current member of its
foundation board, I entirely agree with the signatories of the
letter to the present chairman that Aubrey Mellor be appointed the
artistic director (”Battle over arts and minds divides NIDA”, March
8-9). It would then be in NIDA’s best interest to advertise for an
“energetic and inspiring chief executive” to be the administrative
head.
Malcolm Chaikin Rose Bay
It would be a tragic farce for NIDA to dismiss Aubrey Mellor. He
is a rare genius, a great teacher and a great director. Only a fool
could ignore the statement by Cate Blanchett, Judy Davis, Geoffrey
Rush, George Miller et al that Mellor is the finest acting teacher
in the country. NIDA is federally funded. Peter Garrett should take
decisive action to prevent mediocrity triumphing over genius.
Ric Davidson Avalon
Worthies of elsewhere
No, Adam Cook (Letters, March 8-9), Germaine Greer should not get
an official Australian honour. Permanent residence in Australia
should be a basic requirement for that. Those worthies who live
elsewhere, including Greer, Rolf Harris, Clive James, Greg Norman,
John Pilger and Geoffrey Robertson, should look to their homelands
of choice for a gong.
Brendan Linnane Dernancourt (SA)
Delusion rights
I can’t understand why Alan Ramsey (”Sideshow takes on delusions of
grandeur”, March 8-9) and letter writers are getting so hot under
the collar about John Howard’s speech last week. Surely it is the
right of every former prime minister to be in denial about why the
electorate gave them the heave-ho. Just look at Paul Keating for
the past 12 years.
Peter Dieleman Waratah
Long way west
“Motorists driving from Sydney Airport to the inner west, using the
Eastern Distributor and the Cross City Tunnel, will pay just under
$10 in tolls,” according to your report (”Tolls up in Sydney, free
ride in Melbourne”, March 8-9). Anyone doing so deserves to pay
$10. I suggest a long-term saving by investing in a street
directory.
Duncan Barrett Camperdown
Too big for the fridge
Surely Del Kathryn Barton’s picture was painted by her kids (”A
mother load of happiness”, March 8-9). I suppose it was too big to
fit on the fridge so she entered it in the Archibald.
Eddie Fingret Dover Heights
I’ve got no idea about art and portraiture, and it appears that
the trustees of the Archibald Prize share my inadequacy.
Graham Anderson Bundanoon
Journey of faith
Oh ye of little faith, Cardinal Pell (”The priest, his fake cancer
and an almighty apology”, smh.com.au, March 9). Surely Father
Richard Abourjaily’s “delusional” condition could also have been
miraculously cured at Lourdes.
Allan Lloyd Lamb Island (Qld)
Scattered chums
So, can we think of Mr Downer and his reluctant chums as “The
Things That Scatter”?
Phil Norris Longueville
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