The author of this article used the concept of aggression to describe the care of the patient. Also that “intensive interventions” left the patients in “more pain and discomfort while unnecessarily prolonging the process of dying”. These statements certainly are concerning for prospective patients of our hospitals.

The medical  teams strive to deliver treatment  that is respectful of all patients, their families and carers. We listen to their needs and wishes. The doctors and nurses strive to do this whatever the expected outcome and we take death and dying to be a very important component of that care. It is important to remember that patients can and do die in hospital.

While saving lives is a marvellous part of medicine, providing care to those at the end of their lives is a special privilege.

All people over 50 years of age are encouraged to have end-of-life plans and know we will respect them. We want  you to discuss these with your loved ones and medical providers. Care at Shoalhaven hospitals is very individual both for the patient generally and each admission specifically. It may be that on one occasion patients opt for active life-saving measures and at another time they do not. Be assured we listen to your needs and will discuss your options.

The treatment of older patients is sometimes very complex and has been enabled by surgeons, anaesthetists, physicians and intensive care doctors coming together to discuss all treatment options for each patient. They are often assisted by the geriatricians and palliative care teams. These treatments are then discussed openly with the patient and their family.

Medical teams are also lucky to have the palliative care facility at Berry Hospital, palliative care teams at the hospitals and with the general practitioners teams delivering terminal care in homes and nursing homes.

Frailty, futility and aged care have been and will continue to be an important focus of the medical teams of the Shoalhaven hospitals. Improving these aspects will help our patients.

It is clear to all residents within the Ulladulla/Milton townships that development is active and the number of houses is increasingly exponentially. Along with a burgeoning population comes increased pressure on native flora and fauna and it is up to every resident to ensure they do their utmost to sustain, maintain and support measures which enable our environment to be preserved.  

Over the last few years many new homes have included cats to the pet tally of the district. While pet ownership comes with enormous positives it also carries responsibilities and owners of dogs must restrain them, register them, and be clear on their location at all times. Cat ownership in Shoalhaven, it seems, is without expectation.

Yet everyone is well aware of the impact of free-ranging cats on the environment.

Our council has not moved with the times and does not even impose a curfew on cats. It is imperative council reviews its pet ownership rules. The population of cats just in our Milton street alone has grown from 0 to at least five and they are the ones we see wandering around during the day.  

While l am not proposing we adopt the initiatives of one New Zealand council which has insisted on feline sterilisation, curfews and once the cat has died it cannot be replaced. l am pleading for council to create by-laws reflective of a forward thinking, environmentally conscious body representing a community passionate to promote and support every aspect of their environment.