By Tania Martin
HASSEL Rutland has challenged State Government politicians to spend the day at Fernlea House before condemning it to closure.
The Ferntree Gully woman spends every Tuesday at the Emerald-based palliative care unit.
She has renewed calls for the State Government to help fund the service.
Fernlea House will close in June unless it can come up with the $300,000 it needs to keep its doors open.
For the past year, Fernlea House supporters have been campaigning for both state and federal government support.
It received more than $270,000 from the Federal Government last year to stay afloat but is now facing the same problems.
The State Government has refused to fund the unit as it’s not connected to an in-hospital service.
Ms Rutland was diagnosed with emphysema more than five years ago but it wasn’t until 2007 that she discovered a hidden gem in Fernlea House.
It’s now her home away from home.
“I thought I would give it a go and they made me very welcome and I haven’t missed many days since,” Ms Rutland said.
Ms Rutland said spending the day at Fernlea House was a way of escaping the reality of her illness for a few short hours.
“I just love it there,” she said.
“We have a beautiful lunch, different activities, and a Reiki therapist and in the afternoons the volunteers give us manicures and pedicures….it’s a totally spoiling, pampering day which you need when you’re not well.”
Ms Rutland said people coping with life-threatening illnesses needed to have something to look forward to.
She said Fernlea House offered just that.
Ms Rutland said if Fernlea House closed, she would not have a reason to leave her house.
“I would be very lonely without it,” she said.
Ms Rutland said the palliative care service was similar to having her own personal support group.
“They keep in touch with my family and tell them how I am coping with my illness,” she said.
“It’s very much a family co-ordinated service and is very valuable for everybody.”
Ms Rutland said although the Wantirna-based palliative care unit offered a great service, it wasn’t the same as Fernlea.
“Fernlea is a different ball game all together, it’s more a homey atmosphere,” she said.
Ms Rutland said at Wantira the nurses were usually swamped, with more than 60 patients to look after.
“They would be too busy to offer the sorts of things we have here (Fernlea),” she said.
Ms Rutland refuses to think about Fernlea closing.
“It’s very important we get it out there how important it is to have for local residents … there is nowhere else like it,” she said.
The Mail contacted the State Government to see if they would take up the challenge to spend a day at the palliative care unit but failed to get a response before going to print.
An announcement on Fernlea House’s future is expected later this month.
For more on Fernlea’s funding battle see page 5
