ON May 24, I was unlucky enough to have a stroke - but luckily I was taken to Belmont hospital stroke ward where the nurses and all staff were so wonderful.
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I have heard a lot of contrary reports about Belmont hospital, but I have nothing but praise for the nurses and other staff who in my opinion went above and beyond what I would class as care for patients.
Nothing was too much for them and if I hear a bad word about Belmont hospital I will set them straight. If you look like going to Belmont hospital you are so lucky as you will be in the best of care. This applies to all parts of the hospital from casualty to imaging. In fact all staff at the hospital were great.
While I was there a lady came and said she had to assess me to see if I am eligible for after hospital care by the transitional aged care program. I was accepted and talk about winning the lottery; you would not believe the care I have had. Unbelievable.
They provide physio and an assistant who comes and walks me, occupational care, and nurses everyday to shower me until I was able to do it myself.
Please believe me when I say in my opinion I was treated like a king by all the staff; nothing was too much. All these people come every week; talk about full-on care.
I had a couple of little setbacks and the phone ran hot asking how I was and did I need anything. The greatest thing I can say is if you or any relatives are offered this, grab it with all your strength.
I have no trouble recommending this group.
Doug Buchanan, Swansea
Rail line wasn't the issue
I FOUND the article by Michael Parris about the Honeysuckle precinct interesting.
It would seem the city planning is being run by two separate groups - the Newcastle council and the Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation. It would seem they are not co-operating.
As such the concerns raised by the council are hardly surprising. I find it interesting that in spite of the fact the railway has gone, Honeysuckle is still seen to be isolated from the CBD.
Maybe it wasn't the railway that was the barrier after all. Was the barrier the attitude of the Honeysuckle (later Hunter) Development Corporation (HDC) that was the problem? The Honeysuckle precinct was very poorly planned and getting around there is more difficult than it should be.
Next to closing the railway, closing Wharf Road was one of the worst decisions made by the HDC. I have often thought that if the Joy Cummins plan for parkland on the former Honeysuckle goods came to fruition, more people would have been attracted to the city, particularly on weekends.
If more level crossings and railway stations had been constructed it would have been easier to move around the city.
Clearly, the problems being faced by businesses in Newcastle were not because of the railway.
The problems are because of poor planning decisions by the Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation and the council.
Peter Sansom, Kahibah
In defence of Donald
JANET Sutherland (Short Takes, 28/9), I don't hold Donald Trump single-handedly responsible for all the COVID and gun deaths in the US, anymore than I would hold any Democrat president single-handedly responsible for the far greater number of abortions in that country.
Michael Hinchey (Short Takes, 28/9), Jesus might be the complete package but, like Mother Teresa, he is not a presidential candidate. If He was a candidate I wonder if you would vote for Him anyway.
You say Jesus calls His followers to be non-judgemental. In the light of your view of Trump, Jesus doesn't sound like your kind of guy to me.
Peter Dolan, Lambton
Put the environment first
ZOMBIES are scary but the fear of the Hunter becoming a fracked lunar landscape is the stuff of nightmares. (Zombie gas fears flare up, Herald, 26/9).
It's time for the National Party to support locals and stand up to the Liberal Party who are putting gas ahead of the environment.
Far better to maintain the beauty of the region with sustainable projects that earn money for farmers such as those described in the Regional Horizons report.
Ray Peck, Hawthorn, Vic
Time to open borders
OPEN your heart, open your borders and people will open their wallets, which will help your state's economy.
Most importantly, the flow-on will help the struggling hospitality industry.
The Queensland Premier needs to show some duty of care towards her own constituents as well as those trying to utilise her state for holidays and enjoyment, the longer she leaves opening her border wall, the less chance of rebooting that state's economy and her chances of regaining her political expectations.
Graeme Kime, Cameron Park
Will parents pick up the bill?
I WOULD just like to thank the three lovely teenage girls driving a black Nissan Navara (with a Kings camper on top) that egged my Jeep Grand Cherokee in The Junction on Thursday night.
While you were throwing eggs at my car I was working night shift in the hospital looking after teenagers your age who have been severely injured and have brain injuries to no fault of their own.
Meanwhile other privileged teenagers are out damaging other people's property.
Thanks so much. Now my Jeep has to go into the workshop to be resprayed where the paint has come off my vehicle from your egg-throwing spree.
Do you think your parents might like to pay my $900 insurance fee?
Lisa Dixon, The Junction
Knights need to lift
THE Knights may as well forfeit the game to South Sydney on what I saw on Friday night.
Their defence was like a wet paper bag.
At one stage, the Titans fullback AJ Brimson beat about eight players to score under the post.
The Knights looked like a rabble with the ball and without it.
David Furner, the assistant and defence coach, has seen the writing on the wall and is getting out early.
If I was Adam O'Brien I would be pulling out the game played earlier in the season against Penrith and playing it over a number of times to show them if you put some heart into the game you can come away with something.
If they don't show some sting next week in defence against South Sydney the scoreboard operator will be working overtime.
Allen Small, East Maitland
WHAT a lot of actors. The Knights looked like they were saving themselves for the finals; unfortunately the Roosters did the same. Now they have disappointed lots of their fans by not having a home final game. Really disappointed.
Bill Slicer, Tighes Hill
I WONDER how many of our renewable energy stalwarts turned their coal-fired power air conditioners on to heat over these last couple of cool days.
Brad Hill, Singleton
MR Tychsen (Short Takes, 26/9) when it comes to sensible realistic predictions about the planet I think a former Danish government environment advisor is more credible than a naturalist. After all, most alarmist predictions over the last 30 years have been wrong. Sorry but I'm not familiar with the work of anyone called Lomberg.
Greg Hunt, Newcastle West
MEMO Daniel Andrews and co: "Some people don't have much to say, but you have to listen a long time to find out" - Mark Twain
Howard Hutchins, Chirnside Park
STEVE Barnett (Short Takes 25/9), if only Donald Trump would follow his followers who followed his suggestion following his news conference in April this year that injecting disinfectant could battle COVID-19; a following that died ingesting disinfectant. I question following anybody. Especially a president blindly tapping around with a white stick to find populist causes to follow.
Colin Fordham, Lambton
ADZ Carter's idea of having fun seems to be limited to access to alcohol. In my young days we enjoyed plenty of fun without ever thinking about going into a bar or a pub; and I assure you Adz, we were not wowsers.
Elsa Cant, Merewether
LAST Sunday night I watched the ABC's Australia Remastered Reptile Realm presented by Aaron Pedersen. As usual this magnificent program held me spellbound. So much of the lives of our reptiles were covered in one hour which seemed too short. Boring? I think not. I'm eagerly awaiting the next episode about our fascinating country, without ads to distract me.
Daphne Hughes, Kahibah
MESSIANIC leader or wolf in sheep's clothing? Holding the nose to stop Trump's stink, Peter Dolan (Letters, 25/9) is akin to turning a blind eye while the United States sinks due to poor leadership.
Julie Robinson, Cardiff
I FIND it disappointing that the majority of over 300 stranded whales couldn't be saved with help from the Australian Army with heavy lift helicopters and small landing craft that can float in less than a metre of water, assisted by four-wheel drive forklift, front-end loaders that can operate safely in up to 1.5 metres of water. This would have been a good PR training and recruitment exercise. Maybe this letter will prompt action in similar future events.