Hospital deserves residents’ support

Five generations of my family have been blessed with excellent care at Whidbey General Hospital. I would urge you to think about all the folks you know who have been treated successfully at our own Whidbey General Hospital since it’s inception in 1970.

“I was misdiagnosed eight years ago,” my friend tells me. And I am so sorry she suffered that overwhelming experience.

But that medico has been long gone and retired. Blaming WGH for that is punishing today’s patients and visiting “the sins of the father” upon today’s children.

Not voting for the WGH bond is punishing the patients of today and tomorrow.

It is denying them the best care and help they need now. Now is the time to bring WGH into the present and future of great medicine for Whidbey Island.

Some say, “I can just go to Skagit.” That is the same as letting the person, a stranger, at the table next to you in the restaurant pay for your meal. The voters of Skagit County stepped up and are paying for all the upgrades to their hospital. Are we so miserly as to let others pay our way? I hope not. We need to have a grown-up conversation and look at the facts. We need to remove personalities and old wives tales and grudges from the equation.

What do you tip your waiter, barber or hairdresser? Or do you walk out and let the next client pay for you?

We need to reward and assist today’s doctors and staff at WGH by voting yes and giving them the facilities and equipment they need to do their job of helping and healing our families on Whidbey Island.

Sue Tingstad

Coupeville

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

RGB version
Editorial cartoons for Friday, April 19

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Snow dusts the treeline near Heather Lake Trailhead in the area of a disputed logging project on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, outside Verlot, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Editorial: Move ahead with state forests’ carbon credit sales

A judge clears a state program to set aside forestland and sell carbon credits for climate efforts.

Students make their way through a portion of a secure gate a fence at the front of Lakewood Elementary School on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. Fencing the entire campus is something that would hopefully be upgraded with fund from the levy. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Levies in two north county districts deserve support

Lakewood School District is seeking approval of two levies. Fire District 21 seeks a levy increase.

Schwab: Honestly, the lies are coming in thick and sticky

The week in fakery comes with the disturbing news that many say they believe the Trumpian lies.

If grizzlies return, should those areas be off-limits?

We’ve all seen the YouTube videos of how the Yellowstone man-beast encounters… Continue reading

Efforts to confront homelessness encouraging

Thanks to The Herald for its efforts to battle homelessness, along with… Continue reading

Comment: Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be, nor was the past

Nostalgia often puts too rosy a tint on the past. But it can be used to see the present more clearly.

A new apple variety, WA 64, has been developed by WSU's College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences. The college is taking suggestions on what to name the variety. (WSU)
Editorial: Apple-naming contest fun celebration of state icon

A new variety developed at WSU needs a name. But take a pass on suggesting Crispy McPinkface.

Liz Skinner, right, and Emma Titterness, both from Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County, speak with a man near the Silver Lake Safeway while conducting a point-in-time count Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Everett, Washington. The man, who had slept at that location the previous night, was provided some food and a warming kit after participating in the PIT survey. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Editorial: Among obstacles, hope to curb homelessness

Panelists from service providers and local officials discussed homelessness’ interwoven challenges.

FILE - In this photo taken Oct. 2, 2018, semi-automatic rifles fill a wall at a gun shop in Lynnwood, Wash. Gov. Jay Inslee is joining state Attorney General Bob Ferguson to propose limits to magazine capacity and a ban on the sale of assault weapons. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)
Editorial: ‘History, tradition’ poor test for gun safety laws

Judge’s ruling against the state’s law on large-capacity gun clips is based on a problematic decision.

This combination of photos taken on Capitol Hill in Washington shows Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., on March 23, 2023, left, and Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., on Nov. 3, 2021. The two lawmakers from opposing parties are floating a new plan to protect the privacy of Americans' personal data. The draft legislation was announced Sunday, April 7, 2024, and would make privacy a consumer right and set new rules for companies that collect and transfer personal data. (AP Photo)
Editorial: Adopt federal rules on data privacy and rights

A bipartisan plan from Sen. Cantwell and Rep. McMorris Rodgers offers consumer protection online.

State needs to assure better rail service for Amtrak Cascades

The Puget Sound region’s population is expected to grow by 4 million… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.