Hospice hope

By Tania Martin
FERNLEA House supporters are praying for a miracle as the service again faces closure.
The Emerald palliative care unit will close its doors in June unless someone can come up with the cash to keep it running.
It needs more than $400,000 a year to run but both Federal and State Governments have failed to support the unit.
The community run service is now facing an uphill battle to remain open.
Fernlea House was granted an 11th hour reprieve last May following a Federal Government cash injection of more than $270,000.
This followed community uproar over the Federal Government’s initial refusal to fund the hospice.
But the committee is facing the same problems again this year.
Time is running out as Fernlea House members appeal to the government for a second chance.
Guest and Wandin man, Max Rouget has been going to Fernlea House for more than 15 months.
“I come here one day a week and I look forward to my time here.
“It’s a chance for me to forget about my illness,” he said.
“I don’t know what I will do if it closes.”
Fernlea House president Anne Davies said the committee had received a letter earlier this month from Health Minister Justine Elliott advising that there was no guarantee of funding past June.
Ms Davies said the committee was appealing for Ms Elliott to reconsider.
“We have had discussions with local departments of health, and State Government officials but the answer is still the same,” she said.
“They (the government) will not support community based palliative care units such as Fernlea,” she said.
Ms Davies said the State Government would only fund in-hospital palliative care services.
“They focus on helping people who are within days of dying but Fernlea offers a more long-term care,” she said.
“We support them through the changes they have to make in their life.”
The State Government has maintained it supports palliative care across Victoria.
A spokesman said the government already invests $78 million for palliative care, plus it had provided $5.7 million to Eastern Palliative Care in 2008-09.
“Through in-patient services at Eastern Health’s new $30 million rehabilitation and palliative care centre at Wantirna, and a day hospice at St Vincent’s Health, we are delivering on these services in Melbourne’s east,” he said.
La Trobe MP Jason Wood last Thursday submitted a 1000-signature petition to Parliament in a bid to save Fernlea House.
Mr Wood told the Parliament it was vital to keep Fernlea running.
“I plead with the government to overturn its decision and make money available in this year’s budget,” he told Parliament.
The Mail contacted Ms Elliott but was unable to get a response before going to print.