Sir - Wow! A car salesman complains about bumper sticker advertising! You read it in the T&A Times first (Fri 18/11 Letter to Ed. P. Barton).

To set everyone's mind at rest, the "No More Bandaids" campaign (now incorporated as a community group "No More Bandaid Solutions Inc.") has no current plans to flood the place with bumper stickers. In a private conversation with Mr Barton, I did indeed broach the subject, but following an e-mail from him, I took on board his comments and we shelved the idea. I don't quite see the point of it being raised in a letter to the editor now.

Yes, the delivery of public health services, especially to rural areas, is complex and problematical given the ever growing expense and expectations people have.

That is why the "No More Bandaids" campaign for new hospitals included not only Tumut, but Batlow and Wagga Wagga Base hospitals. That is why we were so vocal about Wagga Wagga Base suffering the indignity of not having one single ultrasound machine on site, with patients ferried around the countryside at tax payers' expense and patients' inconvenience.

To argue that Tumut should wait its turn in the current circumstances, however, is a bit hard to take. As has been revealed in the media and at the last public meeting, other hospitals seem to be continually jumping in front of Tumut, even though Tumut has been waiting a considerable time.

Nobody is denying that Wagga Wagga Base hospital needs immediate replacement. It was built in the early 60's and should have been replaced long ago. So why wasn't it? (One question "No More Bandaids" would like answered). Good business managers plan ahead for asset replacement and put aside funding accordingly. Surely no-one is suggesting that all other hospitals in the GSAHS should now wait until a new Wagga Wagga Base hospital is completed? That project could take the best part of ten years, during which time all those other hospital facilities in the region which are now at breaking point will be critical.

The State of NSW is not broke. The State Budget, when I last heard, was not in deficit. There seems to be plenty to fund projects such as the up-market skiing end of Kosziusko National Park ($250 million) and other projects in Sydney, plus Sydney's never ending road and rail system problems.

And where is the Commonwealth Government in all this? Wasn't the GST supposed to fix all our woes when it came to health, education etc.? I happen to think that the Commonwealth Government has a special responsibility when it comes to supporting rural health, especially where the provision of capital outlay for technological infrastructure is concerned. Country people pay taxes, just as our city cousins do.

It now seems $300 million of Wheat Board money went to Iraq (ie. to our enemies) before our government declared war on that country. One tenth of that money would have built a decent hospital in Tumut. The rest would have built a superb teaching hospital in Wagga Wagga. Similarly, if only a small portion of the $21 billion that went on tax cuts had been set aside to help rural communities update their hospitals, we would all be a lot better off.

Recently, Tumut citizens identified aged care accommodation (retirement villages, nursing homes) as an urgent need. That industry depends on having local access to adequate modern medical facilities, and at present we do not meet those needs. I am sure our Shire Council's consultant is fully aware of that fact. If not, we shouldn't be paying him.

By the way, the Tumut Hospital Planning Committee is a community committee was formed following a public meeting some years ago. It is not the Tumut Health Service Plan Steering Committee.

Yes, it's complex. But one thing is not so hard to grasp. All good things don't necessarily come to those who wait, especially where governments are concerned and where ordinary people leave it to the "experts" to decide their fate.

It's time to ditch the bandaid solution approach and bring rural health facilities into the 21st century.

Yours etc

Sue Swann Secretary

"No More Bandaid Solutions Inc."

PO Box 491, Tumut, NSW 2720

Tumut & Adelong Times

Tuesday November 22 2005