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Pur-fect care
Lucy Graham is a cat foster carer.
If the sight of a fluffy kitten has you feline good, you could be the purrfect candidate to care for a new furiend. Hoppers Crossing’s Lucy Graham has been a volunteer cat foster carer for local charity Purrs of Point Cook for about six years. “I love cats, I’ve got three of my own,” she said. “I saw an ad that said Point Cook needed carers so I started with them. “It’s constant, which is sad in a way, because there’s so many stray cats out there, but good in a way because we’re here offering the service.” The group also rescues unwanted, abused and homeless cats from the western suburbs of Melbourne and relies on the donations of community members, and residents can contribute by donating funds, time as a carer or by dropping off dry or wet cat food, litter, toys and flea and worm treatment at the Point Cook Town Centre. “We got an inbox about a pregnant mama, and I thought ‘jeez, I’ve got to take her’ I didn’t want her having her kittens outside somewhere, and it was cold at the time,” Ms Graham said. “She’s had them and everyone’s healthy and doing well...they’re about five weeks today.” Details: purrsofpointcook@gmail.com
(Damjan Janevski) 300269_01
‘Bizarre’ health decision A Wyndham doctor has labelled as ‘bizarre’ the state government’s decision to pour a billion dollars into health in the northern suburbs while the west lacks critical services. Premier Daniel Andrews on September 20 committed $1billion to upgrade two hospitals in the northern suburbs if successful at the upcoming state election. Dr Joe Garra said the money could have “easily” been invested in Wyndham instead. “We can’t have everything in Werribee, but there are so many services we don’t have,” he said.
“For example, cardiology, if you have a heart attack you can’t stay at Werribee Hospital, there’s still no public plastic surgeon…we don’t have a public psychiatrist…we don’t have a public ophthalmologist. “Paediatric is still very small [and] people have to take their kids to the children’s hospital, or Sunshine [Hospital].” A Victorian government spokesperson said billions were being invested overall to get the state’s health system back on track as quickly as possible, including the completion of a $120 million expansion of critical care at Werribee Mercy Hospital. “We know there is more to do, which is why
Our aim is to take the stress and
as part of a $236 million package in the recent budget, the emergency department capacity of Werribee Mercy Hospital will be doubled,” the spokesperson said. “[We will deliver] a dedicated paediatric zone, four more resuscitation spaces, eight fast track bays, seven consultation rooms, 28 immediate care cubicles, a Behavioural Assessment Room and 16 short stay beds.” Dr Garra acknowledged the funding boost, but said municipality’s healthcare sector needed to be able to cater to Wyndham’s growing population. “They’ve managed to find money for the Northern suburbs…but nothing for Werribee,
it’s bizarre. You shouldn’t have to drive past a public hospital, to get a similar service at another public hospital,” he said. A Mercy Health spokesperson said Mercy Health had been working with the Victorian government to meet future demand. “We have every indication from the government that they recognise the urgency of this upgrade,” the spokesperson said. “We are confident that the service planning, including for various additional departments and sub-specialties, is designed to meet the projected needs of the Wyndham community between now and 2036 when our population will reach half-a-million people.”
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