I LIVE at Rock Forest, just 14 kilometres west of Bathurst along the Ophir Road, and work as a doctor in the middle of Bathurst.
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On December 19, 2017, my neighbours’ landline went out of action. Telstra told them that this line would be fixed within 48 hours (my neighbour’s health has previously occasioned him to be registered as “high priority”).
When it was not fixed within 48 hours, his wife was informed that it would be fixed by December 27.
This couple have no other means of communication with the outside world. Like us, their mobiles only get reception from the front gate – almost a kilometre from the house. In my neighbour’s case, he would have to drive that distance as he cannot walk that far.
On four occasions separately, my husband and myself, my neighbour and his wife have each required an ambulance. On two of those occasions – one for haemorrhage and one for a cardiac emergency (myself) – it was life-threatening and needed an immediate ambulance.
As I write this letter, my neighbour’s phone has still not been fixed. Why?
Who will be responsible if he has a heart attack and dies before his wife can drive to the front gate and summon an ambulance?