Critic comes under fire

September 9, 2002

Dear Sir,

Did your critic Vejay Steede write such a half-witted critique (Monday, September 9, 2002) of Saturday's Jazz Festival events to deflect your attention away from the fact that he hasn't done his job? Please explain to your readers why at 7.30 p.m. Mr. Steede was trying to get into a Jazz show that was slated to start at 4 p.m.? Where is Mr. Steede's critique of the local artists who were showcased on Saturday evening?

A more professional press agent would have been on assignment at least 15 minutes prior to show time; have written a more comprehensive critique of this international event and not have subjected your readers to the diatribe of some spoiled prima donna who was not given preferential admittance over patrons with $50 and $70 tickets for this event.

Maybe next time Mr. Steede can arrive at his assignment on time, do a professional job and not subject your readers to a trite unprofessional explanation of why he was not able to produce the calibre of critique that we can only assume that he was paid to write.

PRESS TIME - NOT BERMUDA TIME!

Somerset

Bed allocation 'generous'

September 6, 2002

Dear Sir,

I took up the post of lead physician of the KEMH continuing care unit, which includes Agape house, in July having been medical director of a hospice in the UK since 1997 and was disturbed to see the headline " Agape House Failing Patients " in The Gazette on September 5th.

As a newcomer it is sometimes an advantage not to be encumbered by historical issues. I will speak as I find.

For a population the size of Bermuda the allocation of numbers of hospice beds is generous. The unit is well equipped, entirely conducive to the provision of palliative care and blessed with highly motivated, dedicated and well trained staff.

There may well be some concerns about staffing levels and the provision of some elements of the service and quite rightly. Medicine is constantly changing, palliative medicine too and in order to respond to those changes we have to examine continuously the services we provide and the way we provide them. What is important is to have management in place willing to listen to the staff and able to respond to them and I believe that is the case here.

The really crucial question though is, do the patients entering Agape House receive good palliative care? The answer is a resounding yes.

We could help more people than we do but patients are often frightened that admission to Agape is a one-way ticket not knowing that after a period of stabilisation and rehabilitation we are able to discharge many home.

Unfortunately headlines such as yours serve to reinforce the fears and prejudices of the very people who need our expertise the most, and to them I would say don't worry, come and see what we do and what we are about, you will be welcome anytime.

Agape House is most emphatically not failing its patients.

DR. DAVID J. HARRIES, M.B. FRCP

Physician Leader

Continuing Care Programme

Glowing praise for fast ferries

September 8, 2002

Dear Sir,

I would like to take this opportunity to add my voice to the general clamour of approval for Dr. Brown's handling of the new fast ferries. Not that I actually take the Sea Express, but my wife does and I pick her up at Rockaway, most evenings.

I especially noticed the new and improved safety and navigational equipment that they have onboard. Of course, GPS, so that they and Dr. Brown will know exactly where they are at all times. Also, new radar sets, which look quite powerful, out to 50 miles at a guess.

This must be very helpful to the captain, as he navigates between the many Islands along the route, most especially in broad daylight.

It is actually their radar sets that are causing me a problem. Each evening, I have been receiving a wicked dose of radiation, at quite close range. Not that I can feel it, as the beam passes right through me, but my wife has started to complain.

It seems that my glowing in the dark is keeping her awake at night. Also, my teeth have started to receive transmissions on the 90 KHz waveband, quite a din.

My children think that it is cool when I walk into a room and all the flourescent lights come on automatically. On a personal note I find the whole experience quite spooky.

DOUGLAS C. ROBERTS

Sandys Parish