It’s a by-election for believers in democracy
As you say in your editorial (Western Advocate, Saturday, September 24), the Orange by-election will be "A by-election with something for everyone".
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This next by-election will reveal, perhaps most of all, how much the general public values democracy itself, and the importance of their vote.
A catalogue of assaults against the built and natural environments, against social and cultural history, and against the tapestry of social communities itself has rightly angered many sections of the community throughout the state.
Disengagement or indifference to the NSW Government's policies will ensure that we end up with more "Andrew Gees", who desert their electorates in an opportunistic fashion, and more MPs who treat their electorates with contempt.
You might suggest that Luke Foley hasn't made a habit of visiting this region, but most certainly neither has Mike Baird.
One of them takes the electorate completely for granted, while the other is finally seeing a way of opening the eyes of the public.
You suggest that the election result might depend "on who is talking".
I would like to hope that it will depend upon who is really listening, to the actual facts behind the rhetoric.
Elizabeth Chandler, Napoleon Reef
Aren’t hospitals there for those needing attention?
RE: “Low point: Non-urgent cases putting pressure on the Bathurst emergency department” (Western Advocate, Monday, September 26).
Forgive my cynical amusement at the news that there had been a “blowout” in Triage 5 (low priority) presentations at Bathurst Base Hospital over the last three months.
What the report doesn’t say is the days/hours the report covers.
If it did, it might make all the difference as to how thoughtless the public, like me, has become in seeking weekend medical attention at their hospital.
My recent experience of my weekend (and after hours) needs was that when I rang my GP on a Sunday (how thoughtless of me), the Answerphone referred me to the 24-hour GP Service, or the public hospital emergency department.
When I rang the GP Service the doctor referred me to the hospital emergency department.
I didn’t give a toss whether I was Triage number this or that – I wanted the advice of a doctor. And without choice, I was prepared to wait.
I was happy with the advice and treatment received. There was only one nurse on duty, and she was run off her feet with the number seeking help.
I don’t think others in the emergency department waiting room were there for fun.
Yes, the triage assessment is a good sorting system. Fair enough. Someone with a more serious condition than mine deserves faster attention.
As a general comment, could the Bathurst Base Hospital general manager please explain, regardless of the day of the week, what those who do not have private health cover, or cannot afford a GP, do to receive treatment, no matter how minor.
Yes, a bee sting or minor wound may sound trivial to someone who works in the hospital.
To those who don’t, but consider that they need attention, their automatic reaction is to seek help.
I thought that is part of the reason we have hospitals.
Certainly, emergency departments cost money. But surely we’re not saying that no one should go to hospital unless they are at death’s door.
While I’m on my bike, could the general manager release the waiting times at Bathurst Base Hospital for surgery other than orthopaedic?