The Ministry of Health proposes to cancel funding for urgent GP visits by pregnant and postpartum women. Photo / File. December 9, 2020.
I hope the Ministry of Health's proposed cancellation of funding for urgent GP visits by pregnant and postpartum women is promptly consigned to the rubbish heap. Not all health concerns during pregnancy can be managed by LMCs, although they most certainly impinge on the wellbeing
of women and babies. Putting costs back on women will prevent some from receiving timely care, with potentially disastrous consequences for them, while placing even greater strain on underfunded secondary and tertiary services.
Andrea Dawe, Sandringham.
The recent climate change article (NZ Herald, April 16) included a section titled "Tackling crisis together". It quoted campaigner David Tong saying "People change their behaviour when they see a problem, and see how they can be part of fixing it". His thesis that beyond buying decisions and lifestyle change, individual people hold the most power for compelling governments and companies to "keep climate factors at the forefront" is ultimately true. The series of School Strike for Climate protests have been a powerful example. I am a great believer in the power of the "people's media" which is roadside signs. I painted and erected a climate emergency sign on SH10 in the Far North in November 2019. It was before the massive Aussie bush fires turned our sky's orange, before Covid 19 stopped the planes flying and indeed before the Government declared a Climate Emergency.
Wayne Parsonson, Kaitaia.
I have always found Viva magazine to be rather snobby, with all the designer clothes, products etc advertised, so I wasn't surprised all the top restaurants reviewed were in the city and adjacent areas. It should have been renamed the central city top restaurants as there are plenty of fantastic restaurants all over Auckland.
Helen Lowe, Albany.
It's pleasing to learn live export from New Zealand is to be banned but what a shame around 200,000 or so hapless cows will be exported before the trade ends in 2023. Forcing females to give birth each year, then robbing them of their precious newborn babies is cruel enough. But to deprive these grieving mothers of sunshine, fresh air, pasture and exercise inside factory farms, culminating with a brutal slaughter in a country with no animal welfare laws is beyond heartless. Why can't the trade end now?
Jenny Moxham, Victoria.
As a budding researcher into EV takeup and takeoff I thought I would boldly try and get some idea of how many government departments have bought EVs to start fulfilling their zero emission vehicle fleets as ordained by their very own government. But it ain't easy gettin' such information. To my question under under the Official Information Act 1982 asking "how many NZ govt vehicles are fully electric ... 100%? Please list each ministry and uptake" I got this reply: "The office of the Minister of Local Government has decided to refuse your request under section 18(g) of the Official Information Act on the grounds that the information is not held by the Minister and the Minister has no grounds for believing it is held by another department. "I have been advised that you would need to contact individual departments about this. As far as the Department of Internal Affairs can find, there is no central list of vehicles owned by all departments." Maybe a register needs setting up showing all government departments' compliance with the Paris Accord emissions targets. Allowing 14 more years of escalating CO2 emissions and wasteful use of 100 million-year old oil in cars and trucks is also not what one would call "urgent attention".
Rob Buchanan Kerikeri.
Thank you Prime TV for showing A Living Hell – Apartment Disasters. The programme highlighted that despite leaking buildings continuing to be built there are no designated officials to support the victims caught up in these nightmares. Apartment body corporations are abandoned to manage rebuilds costing in excess of $100,000,000. The apartment owners are left to struggle with financial ruin and face ongoing problems with their physical and mental health. When will the Government finally act to stop these disasters?
Valma MacKay, Mt Albert.
The National Party is now jumping on the bandwagon regarding the release of mainly elderly patients in the middle of the night. I am a member of Grey Power King Country and well remember many years ago, our branch contacted our MP Ian McKelvey (National) regarding this subject. Being that Taumarunui is two hours' drive from Waikato Hospital, there is no way they would have asked for release at that time of night. For the majority of patients from here the only means of transport is a hospital bus that leaves Waikato at 4pm to return to Taumarunui or private car. The National Party is trying to politicise this but ignore the fact it was occurring on their watch, of which they were informed by our branch and did nothing about as was common for anything related to the health system during National's tenure.
Tom O'Toole, Taumarunui.
I agree with the Diana Clement's processed foods comments, but those regarding meat consumption require further clarification (NZ Herald, April 11). Despite some plant foods containing a full amino acid profile, these are not in the same ratio as those provided by animal foods. This is important, as it is the essential amino acid ratios that determine the effectiveness of protein sources. In particular, leucine is required as an absolute per meal quantity for absorption and utilisation of the other amino acids. The leucine content of plant proteins is low, requiring a higher calorie load to meet intake requirements. The author asks, "have you ever met anyone with a protein deficiency?". The answer is yes, often. As we age, our need for protein doubles while our need for energy is reduced. Unlike carbs and fats, protein isn't stored in the body, therefore it is important to consume enough at each meal. Another question raised by this article was, what is the mechanism for animal protein causing disease, while the same proteins from a plant-based source are considered healthful? Would the author be able to explain how a food we have been eating since time began, is responsible for today's diseases?
Susan Birch, Kawerau.
If there is one thing 40 years working in the IT industry taught me apart from more than a dozen programming languages it was never to write any program from scratch. It was basic common sense to use the sample from the manual or copy another program and modify it to your requirements. This is simply a version of the adage: "do not re-invent the wheel". Yet it seems the Government, the minister responsible for managing the Covid-19 response and the Health Department are doing just that. There already exists a very adequate system for documenting and delivering a vaccine as my recent flu injection has proved. The clinics involved have been doing this for years and are incredibly competent. The only real concerns are the capacity of the clinics and the need to store this particular vaccine at a much lower temperature. The capacity is there with very competent nurses in the multitude of medical clinics around the country. Yes, it may be necessary for them to be paid overtime and a bonus, which they richly deserve, but why develop a whole new infrastructure from scratch for Covid-19? The distribution from very cold storage is a little more complex but the vaccine remains potent for up to five days in a regular refrigerator or up to 30 days if dry ice is used. The country is well endowed with couriers and medical delivery services manage 24-hour delivery or less on a regular basis. If a clinic would normally administer 200 influenza vaccines in a week it would make sense to deliver say 250 (more or less) Covid-19 vaccines in a week and let them use their considerable skills to get them to the people who have a need now rather than in six months or more.
Rod Lyons, Muriwai.
On Covid
The Covid vaccination situation in the UK is not quite as rosy as your editorial (Weekend Herald, April 17) suggests. My friend, in her 70s, cannot find out how to go about getting her second jab. No one knows when, where or how. Tony Forster, Mt Eden.
A Kiwi returning from Australia, already in MIQ, can't get an exemption to see her father, who is about to start cancer treatment. Why is she so unsafe when we now are accepting Aussie travellers without any testing at all? It's MIQ that's unsafe. Steve Russell, Hillcrest.
On noise
A suggestion for your correspondent K. Mansell, Greenlane (NZ Herald, April 17): In 15 secs your smartphone will measure a decibel score, and on some apps (SoundPrint; SoundCheck) also a safety rating, which can be useful if negotiating with restaurant staff to "turn down that noise". Who wants to listen to "high energy" loud music at dinner?Lindsay Spilman, Parnell.
On live exports
I find it hard to believe that our farmers are silly enough not to realise that if they send dairy cows to China, in the future the Chinese will have a better and bigger dairy industry than we have. Short-term profit will result in a long-term loss. John Laing, Drury.
On bubble
Ah, yeah, g'day Australia. I'll do a zoom meeting over the old wireless internet for now, with a mask on. John Ford, Taradale.
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