Hospital offers safe, skilled care
I write in response to claims by Gary Lockett that emergency care services at Port Fairy Hospital have declined since the Urgent Care Centre opened. As it is some years since he left the hospital board, he may not be aware of the Scope of Practice under which the centre operates. Scope of Practice relates to the extent to which an organisation can meet patients needs for care and the availability of skilled staff and other resources to do so.
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At Port Fairy, patients are assessed on arrival by staff who consider workload, staff skills and the need for specialist care to determine whether they can be managed locally. Unstable or seriously ill patients too ill for local management are transferred to the Warrnambool Hospital.
In my own experience, have received skilled and safe care at the Urgent Care Centre. With the use of the app My Emergency Doctor, I have received care directly from a medical practitioner - without having to travel to Warrnambool.
I dispute Mr Locketts claims that transfer to Warrnambool Hospital is an indication of a decline in service. Rather it reflects a better opportunity to receive appropriate care at a venue offering specialist services.
Port Fairy Hospital should be proud of its service to both locals and the hundreds of holidaymakers who present at its Urgent Care Centre each year. It is an Accredited hospital, highly commended by the Organisation responsible for the Quality and Safety of Hospitals throughout Australia.
Jeanette Robertson, Port Fairy
Resident loves Lyndoch
I would like it known how the staff and team care for all our needs in such a loving and caring way at Lyndoch, on the banks of the Hopkins River, Warrnambool.
Stewart Owen, Warrnambool
COVID vaccine concerns
I have read in the press of the trials and tribulations of the covid vaccine roll out. I was contacted by my long standing clinic if I could attend their premises in less than 20 minutes as they had a cancellation and did not want to waste the dose.
I made it in time and after reading the paperwork I informed them I could not attend the appointment for my second dose as I will be interstate. After much discussion they informed me I would not be given the shot. I went back the next morning and spoke to the practice manager and informed her of the relevant documentation regarding my situation
I was informed later in the day to wait until the mass vaccination centre was opened. I have since learned that they get two payments for the shots and a bonus payment if both shots are administered at the clinic. I feel they are putting profit before my health.
Peter Brown, Warrnambool
Kudos to the state government
The federal government has failed Australians in protecting our borders from the Covid-19 virus. The state governments have been the real heroes assisted by the cooperation of the Australian public unfortunately the States are the ones being blamed by a large segment of the media and Coalition ministers.
All Covid-19 infections were traced back to people arriving from overseas, initially there was little warning and the office of border protection was far too slow to respond. Now 12 months down the track our borders are still not protected with all the recent infections tracing back to those arriving from overseas, rather than put into place measures to stop this from happening the federal government is once again blaming the states.
The solution has been there since day one, quarantine, testing before people depart and quarantine and testing on arrival? We now have an additional security measure vaccination. This is a no brainer the Australian people and small business operators have suffered enough from this political blame game, secure the borders and allow things to get back to normal.
Rob Graham, Terang
Release family now
Everyone in Australia must surely know by now about the sad treatment of two little girls and their parents, who were taken from Biloela and the community that has accepted and loved them.
It is not illegal to arrive in Australia as a refugee, and assessment of the family's case by experts resulted in the recommendation that the family be allowed to stay in Australia, where they had been living and working and contributing to the community as a tax-paying family.
The release of Priya, Nades and their parents would be in compliance with international agreements for the humane treatment of refugees to which Australia is a signatory. It would also be a sign that the Coalition government genuinely cares about the treatment of girls, women and the vulnerable.
Gillian Blair, Warrnambool
Gender equity a necessity
The Gender Equality Act is a historic step forward not just for women, but for every person who contributes to the public sector - about 11 per cent of the state's workforce - and every person in our community impacted by government funded policies, programs and services. Compounded by the national conversation about respect for women that is rightly dominating the headlines, I am hopeful for the long-lasting changes the Act will bring, especially when it comes to preventing violence against women. From Thursday, more than 300 public sector workplaces in Victoria must begin understanding what they can do better to achieve gender equality.
Gender equality in the workplace is not 'nice to have' or only the realm of a sub-sub-subcommittee that meets every now and again. It impacts people of all ages and backgrounds, and addressing it seriously regardless of what the law says is a monumental opportunity to make our community a better place to live and work for everyone.
Emma Mahony, CEO, Women's Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West
Democracy opinions
With respect to The Standard, March 24 page 1 photo heading "Your Voice Matters", and page 3 coverage of "Voices of Wannon", it should be noted that far from a new era of democracy for the south west, the "Voices of..." left wing movement is being executed in only safe conservative Liberal seats.
Bill Poynton, Warrnambool
More needs to be done
Five years ago this week, we were handed a transformational opportunity to save lives and change the future of Indigenous women and children living in the distressing shadow of family violence in their own home.
But not enough has been done to prevent the scourge that remains endemic throughout our communities in the years since the Royal Commission into Family Violence final report was handed down.
Rates of family violence against Indigenous women still continue to increase every year.
More than two-thirds of Indigenous women who were victims of violence report a family member or intimate partner as the perpetrator.
Sadly, we know this is just the tip of the iceberg as many cases still go unreported to police.
Progress to implement the Royal Commission's findings relating to Indigenous Victorians has been slow, with five of the nine recommendations still not in place five years on.
Advocates, including Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service chief executive Nerita Waight, have condemned the delay on these "easily achievable targets ... if the Victorian government had the will to implement these recommendations, it can do so".
Victoria's also made little to no progress towards meeting national targets under the Closing the Gap agreement to bring down family violence rates for Aboriginal Victorians.
Every Victorian deserves to feel safe in their own home.
It is time for the talk and endless delays to stop. The violence must end and lives must be saved.
Peter Walsh, Leader of The Nationals, Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Emma Kealy, Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence
- The Standard prefers letters to be less than 250 words, preference is given to shorter contributions. Letters must include the author's name, address and contact phone number for verification purposes. Letters are published on our website standard.net.au and in print