We are the city of Taree, or maybe that’s gone too.

We patients are being sent to Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital and further – why? Because we don’t have a heart specialist or equipment in our local hospital.

Last year my own experience (heart attack) was being transferred in the middle of the night to John Hunter. Marvelous treatment yes, but no transport the next morning for my wife. Luckily a friend was going to Sydney. Accommodation – none available at John Hunter, full up. Again there was help from this hospital, another venue.

I was discharged 11am a week later. How do we get home? Community transport naturally has to have notice. We were able to get home through the kindness of a man who happened to be coming this way.

It’s my opinion we need an upgrade for this hospital, to a standard which caters for patients in this community, an essential requirement for everyone.

I read in our federal member Dr David Gillespie’s brochure $29.24 million over two years will be allocated to 40 hospitals. I’m doubtful if that would cover cleaning staff.

The governments are not keeping up with community needs, too much red tape.

By bringing this to the community’s notice something can be done – not next year, now.

Tell the politicians: “The world steps aside to let any man pass if he knows where he is going”. Anon.