Day 28 since closure of the Mersey A&E began.

So far these updates have been filled with me banging on about my thoughts around this situation so tonight I will do something different and share some of the wonderful and insightful comments left by you guys on the petition.

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"I have a young family who need an emergency department." - Sally

"Mersey Hospital is consistently the most accredited hospital in the state. It serves the majority of population in the NW. It is essential this population has access to critical emergency care 24/7." - Charmaine

"Mersey is much needed, it saved Burnie hospital when they obviously couldnt keep corona under control" - Tania

"Due to being a home carer to the elderly up here on the north west i am seeing the effect the closure on this hospital has on alot of my clients" - Shelley

"With the temporary closure of Burnie Hospital, the next nearest one is Launceston General which is quite a way for any emergency, particularly for people in the Circular Head area." - Elaine

"It is a frightening thought to think that MCH A&E may not reopen. DEVONPORT is a city and we need this to be operational." - Jane

"It has always helped us when my husband has had heart problems. We need it" - Margaret

"We live in Port Sorell which is the same distance to Launceston as it is to Burnie both of which would be too far away for me or my family in an acute emergency situation." - Rick

"It’s been proven. It need to be open if anything happens again like the past few weeks. It’s funded by the federal government, so where’s the money been going?" - Nancy

"This valuable resource in the Mersey region must be utilized. To not do so goes against all common sense." - Dominique.

"MCH is a great Hospital and has a great ED . It has been greatly under-rated and under resourced by the Tasmanian Government. It is time to reopen MCH’s ED and restore health services for Tasmanian’s and end the era of under resourcing Tasmania’s hospitals ." - Warren

"28,464 emergency presentations. And doctors not given permanent positions is crazy. Locums are unstable. Bring back our hospital." - Narelle

"A local Accident and Emergency service is vital to the people in Devonport, Latrobe and Kentish municipalities. My wife and I are older Australians and in the case of an accident or medical emergency we need this facility close to where we live" - Garry

"As a resident of the North West I rely on the services of the Mersey. With health issues myself, the hospital services are close and easy to get to. The other hospitals are 45 mins or over an hour away. Who will be responsible for countless more lives lost due to the distance needed to get to a hospital when ambulances are few and we have to take ourselves as it will be quicker? We need all services returned." - Gen

"This community relies on its hospital. Stop attacking essential services." - Sally

"This is our local hospital , only 2minutes from where we live ! We moved here because it was so close . We need services to be up and running again ! ASAP Transfer all the patients back to Burnie and fumigate the Mersey !"
- Margaret

"My family and friends rely on the MCH. My mother had a stroke in 2019, and if not for the ambulance going there, rather than Burnie, she would have missed the vital window for treatment, and therefor not have had the chance of recovery she has had." - Jenny

"I have had two operations in this hospital since the new year" - Josephine

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This is only a tiny slice of the hundreds of comments received over the last week, chosen entirely at random.

They represent a cross section of our community, from young parents worried for their children to older citizens who take comfort in knowing help is close at hand.

A functional Mersey ED is more than a convenience it is a matter of life and death.

Don't imagine that those in government care enough to put your life ahead of their political objectives.

Just ask those long term residents who remember a time when the Mersey hosted specialist services including orthopaedics, maternity and paediatrics.

The spotlight is on the decision makers now, lets make them dance by asking the important questions at every opportunity:

WHEN AND HOW WILL OUR MERSEY ED REOPEN?

WHAT MEASURES WILL YOU TAKE TO ENSURE IT IS NOT CLOSED AGAIN?

Stay safe and Keep the Mersey Spirit Alive by spreading the word far and wide!

Warm Regards,

Tasmanian Citizen