Letters to the editor: Tauranga Hospital staff, thank you

A reader has words of praise for hospital staff.

As we all know, our health system is in crisis. Wait lists are way too long even for some minor procedures.

Going to Accident and Emergency can be a nightmare until they can get to you. All good when they do get to you and the care was above reproach.

It was like that for me, four trips to Accident and Emergency before I was admitted to hospital.

I spent nearly three weeks in Tauranga Hospital, most of it in Ward 4c.

In there, I was looked after by staff from all over the world. From the three doctors who saw me every day I started to call them the Three Stooges as they trooped in line; (for those of you who are too young to know try YouTube or Google); to the nurses; the nurses’ assistants; to the tea and dinner ladies; your care and compassion and the effort that you put into your jobs were above and beyond.

A simple thank you does not cover it, so I hope putting it into the public arena through this letter will be seen by you all and everyone will know what you are achieving even though the system is in crisis.

John Whitcombe

Brookfield

SH2 ‘speed limits’

The controversy over so-called limits on traffic speeds travelling Tauranga to Katikati on SH2 is meaningless.

Firstly, it’s not a limit, it’s a threshold for fining motorists.

The law still requires motorists to travel at a safe speed at all times, and always to be able to stop safely.

Secondly, it does not apply to the heavy vehicles carrying most of our goods, they are still limited to 90km/h. Vehicles towing trailers (lots of those too) are limited to 90km/h. School buses, of which there are plenty on that road, are limited to 80km/h. Roadworks, of which there are plenty more to do, have a 30km/h limit to protect workers, and a 50km/h limit to protect newly laid seal.

So what does that leave? A few very short disconnected sections of highway that have median barriers installed to cut down fatalities. Just one lane each way mostly, so the aforementioned speed-limited vehicles control the flow.

No berms to speak of, and no rest areas, you’re stuck with the tired, the reckless and the inattentive.

Which wouldn’t be so bad either, but now we have to contend with the [type of] personality that demands to have higher speeds at all costs. Leave well enough alone! Please!

Graham Crooks

Pyes Pa

DIY ferries

Regarding purchasing new ferries, why can’t we build our own? We have plenty of experienced boatbuilders here. We are known for our luxury superyachts. Let’s build our own ferries, this would give work to hundreds of local people throughout both islands.

Rachel Day

Tauranga

The Bay of Plenty Times welcomes letters from readers. Please note the following:

• Letters should not exceed 200 words.
• They should be opinion based on facts or current events.
• If possible, please email.
• No noms-de-plume.
• Letters will be published with names and suburb/city.
• Please include full name, address and contact details for our records only.
• Local letter writers given preference.
• Rejected letters are not normally acknowledged.
• Letters may be edited, abridged, or rejected at the Editor’s discretion.
• The Editor’s decision on publication is final. No correspondence will be entered into.

Email editor@bayofplentytimes.co.nz