Biker son berated
DESPITE numerous requests from both his father and myself to curb the noise and modify his riding behaviour, my P-plate motorcycle-riding son has refused.
We have told him he is not setting a great example for his four younger sisters and the many children who live near by.
Yesterday my son received an anonymous letter in the mail regarding his noisy motorbike and his riding behaviour in our suburb of Bibra Lake.
I would like to publicly thank our neighbour (as I have no address to do so privately) as maybe he will listen to your requests for peace, quiet and the safety of our community.
If you see that he has not listened to your courteous and matter-of-fact statements contained within your letter, please feel free to contact the police and have the matter dealt with accordingly.
It should be noted that both his father and I have our motorbike licences but in no way condone or are happy with his behaviour.
Deborah Swann
Bibra Lake 

Ministers clueless
JENNY D’ANGER’S article, “Nurses too busy to nurse,” (Herald, August 16, 2014) struck a chord.
My wife is a nurse, she trained at Fremantle and worked there for many years, both as a permanent and agency nurse. She left frontline nursing 15 years ago for another branch of the same profession where she felt she could at least make a difference.
Her complaint when she left Freo then was the same as now—there was little or no time for professional nursing where patient care, beyond doing the basics, was concerned.
Patient numbers were increased as were the levels of bureaucracy that made the work more difficult and far less efficient. It would appear that getting the attention of successive health ministers is nigh-on impossible. When questioned about patients being treated in corridors, lack of beds, lack of nurses and lack of equipment, the public is provided with the usual political anodyne speeches assuring us everything is truly wonderful.
I still question the wisdom of shutting down the emergency department at Fremantle upon the opening of Fiona Stanley Hospital, an edifice our political leaders appear to think will be sufficient to provide for the southern suburbs.
And as for handing a huge long-term contract to Serco for the provision of ancillary services, I am sure they will live to regret it just as numerous hospitals in the UK regretted it.
Quite frankly, our recent present and past health ministers have been totally clueless and more interested in their own political progress than medical matters.
Geoff Dunstone
Carrington St, Palmyra

How did this happen?
A HOUSE and land next to us sold as a nine-unit site has now been approved as an 18-unit three-storey unit site.
How can this be allowed on a small street? The number of cars using this street will be a catastrophe.
There will be no room for 36 rubbish and recycling bins on collection day on the footpath.
This has been approved without any consultation with local residents but we know from the Kitchener Road development there is nothing we can do. The verge trees will probably have to go to make a central driveway and it is doubtful they will be replaced.
The rates the council now receive on the site alone is very much increased and yet it is still reluctant to plant trees to replace those that cannot now have any room on unit sites. Council verges are the only space left for the green lungs of the earth.
Decisions made by people at the top in council affect us all, especially the environment. If you look around the suburbs of Shenton Park, Peppermint Grove and Subiaco you will see councils that care about verge trees.
Brenda Taylor
Bridges Rd, Melville 

Immediate action required
THE serious issues raised in the articles “Our parents deserve better,” and “Nurses too busy to nurse” (Herald, August 9 and 16, 2014) require immediate action.
Nurses never want to prioritise care in any way that leaves patients inconvenienced or uncomfortable, but the reality is that until the state government sufficiently staffs and resources hospitals, that situation will occur.
Nurses are doing what they can with the numbers and resources they have, and their first job is to keep patients out of serious harm, which they do.
If other services are taking a backseat, then health minister Kim Hames has to finally step up and actually ensure his portfolio is properly resourced with enough staff to deal with patient numbers, amid an environment of an ageing population.
WA nurses are providing exceptionally good care under increasingly demanding conditions, including, as recently reported, being regularly forced to care for extra “non-census” patients in corridors, which has certainly been occurring regularly at the subject of these articles, Fremantle Hospital. WA deserves better from its government.
Mark Olson
State Secretary, ANF (WA)

Caring is complex
I DON’T often feel the need to follow up on articles critical of our health service, but I feel strongly enough about “Our parents deserve better” (Herald, August 9, 2014) to do just that.
First and foremost, I hope Pat’s health continues to improve. I think it’s important for your readers to know I provided a detailed response to the journalist’s questions (none of which was included in the article), and, in my response, I said families and carers are entitled to believe their loved ones will be well looked after, but an understanding of the complexities involved is necessary.
Our nurses work very closely with our older patients and strive to successfully nurse a range of complex illnesses and health needs on a daily basis.
Often, patients are either acutely confused from their illness or have underlying aging-related conditions, so skill and patience is required when trying to establish these patients’ needs. Hospital teams are often successful in restoring health and independence to elderly patients, notwithstanding the fact that life cannot be indefinitely sustained and outcomes may not always be what patients and families desire.
Often saddened by the process themselves, nurses attend the dying and frail. Sometimes patients are coming to the end of their lives, and we do what we can to provide dignity and comfort.
We sometimes nurse patients back to an acceptable level of independence. We always care about the journey a patient is taking.
The hospital encourages patients and their relatives or carers to firstly discuss issues or complaints with the ward clinical nurse manager who will do all that is possible to minimise the stress associated with the perceived care (or otherwise) of a loved one. The hospital also has a dedicated customer relations unit that assists with complaints or care concerns on behalf of patients, families and carers.
 Dr David Blythe
Consultant Intensivist,
Executive Director
Fremantle Hospital and Health Service
The Ed says: We’ve just posted the questions we asked the hospital, and Dr Blythe’s “detailed response”, to our Facebook page. Readers are invited to make their own judgement as to what extent our questions were answered.

Knuts to eight storeys
I WONDER if residents around Swanbourne, Knutsford and Fothergill Streets have had a look at the proposed structure plan for the Knutsford development by LandCorp.
There is a proposed eight-storey height limit to apartment blocks (I can only assume apartment blocks given there are 123 dwellings minimum but an “aspirational” 231 in development precinct 5).
Put these on top of the hill, and they will tower over Fremantle, and the surrounding houses (one of which is mine). Is this development in keeping with a heritage-listed precinct? I don’t think so. Let’s see what they have to say at the community information session Saturday August 30.
Danielle Olbromski
Fothergill St, Fremantle

Great stuff, Hilton primary
I WOULD like to say a huge thank you to the Aboriginal staff and parents from Hilton primary school who have once again celebrated NAIDOC in style!
Last Thursday students were treated to a stream of inspiring Aboriginal speakers including local elders, health professionals and returned servicemen as well as entertainment from the amazingly talented David Pigrim!
It is such a privilege to be a part of this gloriously diverse community: I’m grateful that our son will grow up knowing awesome Aboriginal people—sadly, many suburban Australians miss out on this.
It’s not just about the famous visitors though. The dedicated, unsung Aboriginal AIEO and AEs and parents and aunties who always put in such a big effort to celebrate each year deserve a huge pat on the back for being the everyday role models to all our kids, and for making the kangaroo stew.
I laughed as my son commented to his friend (both facepainted) that “the yonga stew was moorditj this year, una”. Great work Hilton primary school—keep it up!
Amy Warne
Burridge Way, Hamilton Hill

The Fly still has wings
WITH regards to Sunset Events being given the lease of the Parry Street drill hall, ending the tenure of the Fly By Night Musicians’ Club, it is hardly surprising a commercial provider was able to offer a lease on more lucrative terms than a not-for-profit organisation.
In some ways Sunset’s bid rides off the back of the reputation of the drill hall as a great venue, which of course was built over the years by the Fly.
But the Fly By Night has always been more than just a venue: it’s a community, and I’ll give them whatever support I can to make sure that community continues, whatever building they operate from.
Simone McGurk
State Labor MP for
Fremantle