The account of my experience was not an attack on the professionalism or the conduct of the ED staff on the day in question.

My critique was of the system and the unfair demands on the resources and staff at the time. The head Surgeon Dr Jones also has at times and most recently been critical of the level of services of late provide by the SDH. The constant cancellation of day surgery in particular is a clear indication of a system under stress.

Seared in my mind forever will be the sight of that poor elderly lady on a drip and the man with the badly broken arm sitting in chairs for hours because of the lack of beds.

Our state and federal politicians seemingly more interested in stadiums, tunnels and roads that the efficient running of our hospitals. This is where a civilised society is best judged by the level of delivery of medical and emergency services to its citizens that are sick and injured.

We must face the fact, the SDH maybe too small and inadequate to provide the level of service that the Shoalhaven requires. You have two levels of management, the bureaucrats and the medical professionals and both have vested interests. If there is insufficient funding and or resources then positive outcomes are pressured to achieved.

May I suggest a new hospital be built far away from the current site, purpose built, staffed accordingly and with a view to providing a service of excellence. At the present time the service provided albeit with the best of intentions is struggling to deliver what is needed and required in a timely and efficient manner.

My report to the SCR was to highlight the problem without proportioning blame but to give an insight to the happenings at the ED on that day.

Which ever political party distributed those black flyers with allegations and spite against Michael Daley should hang their heads in shame! What cowards to not even have identified your Party on the flyer.

I can only deduce it was a State Liberal Party idea because they have the funds to do this sort of gutter politics.

It would have been far more benefit to those of us that received this dirty bit of propaganda if the flyer had outlined some positive policies, promises or achievements.

This sort of disgusting attitude screams of a lack of policies, thereby relying on sheer negativity and hate of the opposition.

This should be reported to the Electoral commission because surely it breaks the moral code of advertising for any political party.

In response to 'Our Hospital is Broken' letter by Professor M Jones (March 6)

I read with concern of the issues faced by professional medical staff and obviously the patients caught in the middle, obviously because funding and political commitment is lacking. I recall some 80 million was taken out of the medical budgets some time ago. Our population is increasing too quickly, and, here in Milton and Ulladulla region mothers have to give birth at Nowra or Wollongong.

The constant winding down of so many important medical services residents should have has now gone too far. Medical professionals and the public should not have to continually fight to get first world facilities, equipment and funding.

Just like our local roads that have been allowed to deteriorate to a dangerous state, risking lives. Ports Poles and Wires and the Environment have all been sold out in one way or another to boost Government coffers and real quality of life is starting to stand out as a serious issue now and for the future.

When is enough enough?