Commenting on the story: ‘Substantial stuff-up’: Premier orders review after 93-year-old left waiting outside hospital

This is absolutely outrageous. I was horrified when I read the story. My mother is 94 and I would hate for something like this to happen to anyone, let alone a very frail, very elderly patient. Why is the triage outside in the first place? It’s a hospital for God’s sake, not a waiting area for people who are going in to Centrelink or something like that.

If the inside waiting area is not big enough, something needs to be done now to fix the problem. Surely there could be somewhere warm and sheltered that these people could wait without being outside, exposed to the elements. And why wasn’t she at least given a blanket or something – that is dreadful. Shame on you, Lyell McEwin Hospital. – Pamela French

Whilst commendable that the Premier appears to be acting fast on the dire situation at the Lyell McEwin Hospital, it would be appreciated if the Government could act just as swiftly to reopen the rural Accident and Emergency Departments that were ‘temporarily’ closed due to potential Covid risks by the previous Government.

These life-saving facilities at the Gumeracha, Mt Pleasant, Eudunda and Strathalbyn hospitals have, in the main, been closed since March 2020. As these sites are outside of the metropolitan area, few in the media or community at large are aware of this issue.

The closure of these four sites adds more pressure on SA Ambulance Service through requiring ambulances to travel longer distances conveying patients to alternative hospitals. In addition, it puts further pressure on the existing small Accident and Emergency Department at the busy Mt Barker Hospital.

For a comparatively small sum of money, additional nurses and doctors could be deployed to reopen at least the busier of these two sites (Gumeracha and Strathalbyn), which not only would relieve pressure on both SAAS and the Mt Barker Hospital, but most importantly such initiative would relieve angst and stress for those who live in these areas. – Joel Taggart

Commenting on the story: Ex-Liberal MP backs independent for blue-ribbon seat

There’s a lot of sense in not voting LNP in rural areas. Fuel prices, aged care availability, access to specialist health care, equitable education availability, cost of living exacerbated by distance, support for environmentally friendly industries and their workers are all neglected by the LNP.

Barry, a hardworking former MP, has added weight to the argument. Well done Barry. – Rod Sutherland

Commenting on the story: Efforts to limit SA pokies fall short as Govt takes huge gaming tax windfall

The continued windfalls gained from gaming machines is a source of shame on government. I am not anti-gambling but having had the unpleasant experience of watching families I know destroyed by pokiest machine gambling, it must be reined in.

Surely this is time to act. Also how can a civilised nation allow gambling ads? Have we learnt nothing form smoking and alcohol advertising? – Chris Barry

Commenting on the story: From the humble to the heroic: 2022 SA Architecture Awards

What a wonderfully uplifting article on such creative work in SA architecture. Such impressive SA work showcased. – Michele Madigan

I certainly hope there is more diversity in the award nominees than those selected for this article, as those featured are bland, almost entirely vertical in their application and with a limited range of textures and colouration.

One would hope that Adelaide architects would have more vision and their proposed clients more willing to embrace more than the norm. – Christopher Millington

Beautiful looking buildings. How many of them, however, conform the 7 Principles of Universal Design, making them truly accessible and inclusive?

There is no excuse these days to have buildings that inhibit the free and equal movement around and within them of people with a variety of disabilities: physical, sensory, cognitive and intellectual. All that is needed is a will to provide equitable outcomes, planning that incorporates the principles from the very start, and consultation with people with disability so that lived experience feeds into the process.

Such production should be a matter of course, but it isn’t of, course. Planners, designers and architects need to remember that the NDIS has freed up many people with disability to participate in their towns, cities and communities, and to spend dollars while out there.

So if they can’t create accessible and inclusive spaces and places because they are ethical, perhaps the disability dollar will carry some weight. Tens of thousands of baby boomers are going to develop, at the very least, age-related disability. Time to remember us! – Nicola Stratford