I am appalled to hear from our hospital administrative staff about the daily verbal abuse they suffer at the hands (and mouths) of the disgruntled public. The healthcare system is overstretched, chronically under-resourced and about to be hit with the winter wave, pushing all appointments, procedures and surgeries out by weeks, if not months. That person you are screaming or swearing at over the phone literally has zero control over the current situation, so calm down, control yourself, be kind and instead, write/phone/email your local MP – what else are they there for anyway?

Jacques Marnewick, Tauranga City.