Lack of parking raises ire
On Tuesday morning I had to visit the new Bendigo Hospital due to injury I'd sustained a few days before. I cannot fault the overworked and underpaid doctors and nurses who cared for me, however, I did have one major gripe – lack of parking.
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I spent half an hour driving around trying to find a parking space close to the emergency department. Drought Street, and every side street near it, was crammed with cars. As was Stewart Street, Bayne Street, Grattan Street, and surrounding streets.
I drove up Mercy Street and spied a car park, however, the bright blue sign told me it was full, with no spaces available.
As I drove around I wondered how sick people are supposed to walk themselves to the emergency room when they have to park several blocks away. As I was suffering from a neck and back injury (and admittedly, shouldn't have been driving anyway), I certainly didn't feel I should have to endure more pain by walking a distance to be treated. I ended up parking in a space marked 15-minute parking only. I was in the hospital for several hours. What if I'd received a fine while being treated?
It was clear to me today that there is an urgent need for more parking around the hospital, the closer the better.
I do hope Bendigo council gets onto this immediately as I don't want others to feel as distressed as I was.
Kylie Ruxton, Strathdale
Money-saving suggestion
I read that the Melbourne government are to spend $91 million to upgrade the train line between Bendigo and Echuca.
Could I point out that money could be saved by using the three pairs of boom gates – two in Marong and the pair at Derby, south of Bridgewater, situated along the seemingly discontinued Eaglehawk to Inglewood train line?.
None of these boom gates have been used almost since they were installed, and the stop and give way signs on the tracks and roads that cross the line have been removed.
While they're at it, could they please alter the speed limit at the Derby s-bend from 80km/h to 100km/h? Marong has a similar bend at the northern entrance to the township and that is zoned at 100km/h.
Tony Smith, Kangaroo Flat
Bill a ‘ticking time bomb’
Health Minister Jill Hennessy describes the assisted suicide bill as “the safest in the world”. Is she naive or dishonest?
There is no such thing as safe euthanasia or suicide legislation. All such laws started out being “just for those in the final weeks or months of life”, or “just for those of sound mind”, or just for adults.
In time these limits disintegrate as more demands are made to be included in the eligibile group of those who wish to be assisted to suicide or to include even children or the mentally ill, who cannot make the choice.
We have excellent palliative care in Victoria and with the implementation of the recommendations of the panel to improve and expand it, we have no need of assisted suicide or euthanasia.
Who will be responsible for the safe keeping of these drugs once dispensed? Is a mental illness – which causes suffering, but which is treatable – an eligible condition? Do we want the lonely and vulnerable to feel such a burden that they request a swift end?
Other countries, such as Oregon, USA and Canada, are finding that their so-called “safe assisted dying” (suicide) legislation is not going so well. One in six in Oregon given a lethal prescription had undiagnosed depression; perhaps with treatment they may still be alive.
Doctors are so unwilling to deliberately end live that they take an oath to preserve. Health funds looking for a way out now prefer to pay for a lethal injection rather than oncology. Records are not being kept as promised; the list goes on.
Victorian MPs should treat this bill like the ticking time bomb that it is.