NOVEMBER 26, 2019 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
Going mutts for Cookie One of Melton’s cutest and furriest companions is stepping into the spotlight to riase money for a Melbourne animal hospital. Melton pooch Cookie will be the feature pet for September 2020, in the annual ‘Backyard heroes’ calendar for Lort Smith Animal Hospital. Cookie is joined by 11 other pets of all shapes and sizes posing for the calendar to raise funds for the hospital. Cookie was a Lort Smith pet therapy volunteer at the hospital for many years until his recent retirement. As part of his role, Cookie and his carer regularly visited an aged care facility bringing joy, comfort and companionship to the residents. Treasuring the memories of their shared pet therapy journey, his carer Linda Willis said volunteering with Cookie was one of the most special parts of her life. The 2020 calendar celebrates the array of animals that vets treat every week at Australia’s largest not-for-profit animal hospital including mice, cats, dogs, reptiles and even wombats. All profits raised from the sale of the calendar go direct to Lort Smith. Calendars can be purchased for $15 from lortsmith.com/shop Cookie with Linda Willis. (Luke Hemer) 201215_04 Inset: Cookie is part of the annual Lort Smith Animal Hospital calendar. (Supplied)
Ewen McRae
Hospital push intensifies Doctors and radiographers in the west have warned patients’ lives are at risk unless a 24-hour hospital is built in Melton by 2022. Thirty-three GPs, cardiologists and radiographers have signed a letter imploring both state and federal governments to commit to fully funding a major public hospital in Melbourne’s fastest growing area. “Due to inadequate access to hospitals, prolonged transfer times and extended waits in emergency departments, avoidable deaths of patients are now becoming a regular occurrence
in the district of Melton,” the letter reads. While the state government has set aside $2.4 million for a business case for the first stage of a new hospital, it has stopped short of fully funding the hospital and is yet to provide a firm start date for construction. Melton’s population has exceeded that of Ballarat and is expected to swell exponentially from about 164,000 to 200,000 over the next five years. By 2031, the population is projected to surpass 250,000. Rose Lakis has iliac artery disease – a condition where the main arteries to her legs are blocked – putting her at risk of potentially fatal blood clots.
The 64-year-old from Kurunjang cannot walk more than 20 metres at a time without her legs swelling up. She is waiting to have bypass surgery at the end of the year. For now, Ms Lakis lives in daily fear she won’t make it to the hospital if she has a blood clot or stroke. “If I was lucky enough to get an ambulance in time it would really depend on the time of day I needed it because it could be 40 to 50 minutes before I even make it to hospital,” she said. Melton GP Marcus Watson said the situation was complicated by lack of main roads or public transport linking Melton to major hospitals in Sunshine, Footscray or Ballarat.
“At peak hour, the Western Highway is a carpark not a freeway,“ Dr Watson said. “It makes it very, very difficult to get anywhere.” Melton mayor Lara Carli said the hospital was crucial for Melton’s future, and the council is pushing for construction to begin as soon as possible. “The need for a public hospital is absolutely critical,” Cr Carli said. “Not only are existing health services under pressure, but travel times to get to surrounding hospitals are getting longer and longer.” Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said the government remained committed to building the hospital. 12433592-SN49-19
By Ewen McRae and Melissa Cunningham (The Age)