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LOCAL NEWS
Thursday June 2, 2016
Local hospitals praised by patients Volunteers needed for Rescue Squad
THE TWEED District Rescue Squad is actively
seeking need of new volunteers to help boost its current committed team of local rescuers.
Murwillumbah Hospital
BOTH MURWILLUMBAH Hospital staff and The Tweed Hospital staff have received praise from two Weekly readers this week who were in desperate need of vital medical assistance.
The first was Petrina Kennerley of Tweed Heads who wanted to express her gratitude to all the staff at the emergency department and Emergency Medical Unit at Tweed Heads Hospital. “After a brief and unexpected stay recently, I experienced first-hand the conditions these staff work under,” she wrote. “Although I have private hospital cover, the proximity of the hospital to my three children and the grandparents who were suddenly required to care for them, made Tweed the obvious choice to receive treatment. “Fortunately, it was possible for me to be discharged earlier as I was able to be part of the invaluable “hospital at home” service. As the primary carer of my children due to my husband being absent through his employment, this was an absolute godsend.” Mrs Kennerley said due to her time in hospital she was made aware of the challenging conditions these staff work under. “With our current government taking an anti-union stance, I shudder to think of what compromises these staff would be forced to make with regards to patient care should the unions be weakened or at worse, abolished. If you value our public health system and you may never know when you need it, give careful consideration to where you direct your vote in the upcoming election. It has potential to be downright catastrophic should these people lose their hard fought conditions, which should be improved if anything, not made worse. Again, sincere thanks to all involved with my care and treatment.” The second was from Robert Learmonth, of Nunderi,
Those who are eager to give back to their community while meeting new people and becoming part of a dedicated and committed squad, should give the Rescue Squad a call. The Squad is the Tweed Shires’ primary rescue team and responds to serious accidents and emergency incidents. Volunteers will be provided with comprehensive training to undertake incidents such as road crash rescue, vertical rescue, land search and rescue, industrial rescues and animal rescues. Rescue Squad Captain Rhett Murray said volunteers also have the opportunity to gain nationally recognised training and qualifications. “Jobs we’ve attended in the past have also included gaining access to residences for NSW Ambulance service and animal rescue. Memorable jobs have included rescuing horses swimming pools and septic tanks.” Positions within the squad including operational, logistical, public relations and maintenance roles. Pictured is a recent training exercise, hosted by NSW Ambulance where new squad applicants Xavier Hawkey and Dan Sutton enjoyed engaging in exercises and scenarios presented. “The volunteer role is perfect for people who work from home or are shift workers,” he said. Volunteers must live in the Tweed area and be 18 or over. They must also be must be physically fit to undertake all aspects of rescue tasks. The Tweed District Rescue Squad cover 1300 square kilometres from the QLD/NSW border down to Wooyung, along the coast and as far inland as Kunghur. “Our Primary Response Rescue Services including Road Crash, Industrial, Domestic, Vertical and Land Search and Rescue,” Mr Murray said. “These jobs could be motor vehicle accidents, gaining access to a home for NSW Ambulance or Police or freeing a child’s finger from a plug hole. “We’ve also gotten horses out from the river and dogs from tight spaces like garage walls.” Spots available for persons with and without daytime availability. Message your expression of interest via the Squad’s Facebook page or email: tweeddistrict@rescue.org.au
The Tweed Hospital who said he recently needed to attend Murwillumbah Emergency Department with a severe infection. “I was advised by my doctor if something was not done immediately I could lose my lower right leg,” he said. “I cannot speak highly enough of the attention, professionalism, personalised care and kindness that was afforded to me on my first and subsequent visits by both the reception staff, doctors and nursing staff. “Throughout the five days I required attention, including the weekend, the outpatients was basically full. Indeed, one of the patients commented to me ‘imagine moving all these people to Tweed’. “Everything was obviously stretched to the limit including staff and resources. The prospect of travelling to The Tweed Hospital was out of the question for most, as was the capacity to afford private health care.” Mr Learmonth said Murwillumbah Hospital provides an essential service and “more than meets the needs of our local community”. “In many cases it is the only source of affordable care for the more financially disadvantaged,” he said. FRONT PAGE CAPTION: “The opportunity for such care will be further impacted Captain Rhett Murray, Vice Captain Ray Kelly, by the freeze in Medicare, those seeking dental care, the Luke Hynes, Greg James, Phil Eizenberg, threat to bulk billing and the ever diminishing budget to Jemma Graffin, Tony Hynes, Drew Carr, Daniel support our hospital system. “Our hospital and the services it offers needs to be Vandenbroek, Dom Edwards, Xavier Hawkey & Dan enhanced by adequate budgets and staffing, and not Sutton. Ambulance Paramedics Grant Prendergast, Peter Browning & Mike Haynes. treated as some secondary resource in the hospital system. We have obviously been let down by the health department bureaucracy. We need real and not token support for this essential service to the Murwillumbah community.” YOUR THOUGHTS: Have you had a good experienced with local health carers and you would like to share your experience? Write to The Weekly editor via email: editor@theweekly.net.au
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