BLATANT SHORTCOMINGS: by Joe Van Langenberg
Image Source : climatecontrolnews
While extending my heartfelt Congratulations to Dan Andrews on his historic re-election as Premier of Victoria, his attention needs to be drawn to the undeniable fact, that one of the leading public hospitals in Heidelberg, namely the “Austin” happens to be in urgent need of a panacea to fix its blatant shortcomings.
Like a multitude of others, I have been on the waiting list for the removal of cataracts from both my eyes. The waiting period has been hitherto almost three years. Time and time again, I have contacted the hospital in question. Nonetheless, time and time again, I have been fobbed off with excuses.
Notwithstanding my optometrist faxing a referral or two, stressing the urgency of my condition; which has worsened over the years, the medical authorities have been seemingly unmoved. This is lamentable to say the least.
On behalf of many others (including myself,) who lack the financial wherewithal to fork out around 1,800 Australian dollars to have the cataract of one eye surgically removed, I humbly and respectfully request Premier Andrews and his health minister, to resolve this anomaly which has deteriorated significantly.
Despite Stevie Wonder saying that “one doesn’t need vision to have vision”, fumbling, stumbling and tumbling in a dark world, can be an extremely lonely and desolate place to be.
As Australia happens to be a country where egalitarian values abound and which also happens to be a developed one at that, the Public Health System which is threatening to come apart at the seams, needs to be given a new lease on life, in order that those at a financial disadvantage, could be treated at the hospital under reference, as well as other hospitals throughout Victoria, with the minimum of delay. This must be the bottom-line. Anything less is unacceptable.
