Rawson loses permanent nurse

by Courtney O'Brien
Rawson residents will be left without a dedicated nursing service when their current community health nurse Nadine McDonald takes 11 months long service leave from November.
For the past 14 years locals have relied on being able to drop-in to the Rawson Community Health Centre, three days a week to see Nadine, for a wide range of needs.
From chronic and acute wound dressings to blood tests, observation and wellbeing checks, referrals, education, advice and sometimes, simply reassurance has been provided.
However, a replacement nurse for the period will not be advertised by West Gippsland Healthcare Group (WGHG).
"I am disappointed that the position has not been advertised," said Nadine, a nurse for 46 years.
"It's been a great job and I'm really, I suppose, a little protective of it. It saves them (locals) going up and down the hill."
WGHG has stated nursing care will continue to be provided to Rawson and the surrounding community through West Gippsland Healthcare Group's district nursing service (DNS).
"The type and frequency of visits will be based on individual clinical need, rather than operating as a one-size-fits-all service, with nursing services continuing to be provided at the centre and on home visits as needed by the community," explained allied and community health executive director of performance and health Belinda Brooks.
"At this stage, the arrangement is specifically in place to provide continuity of service while Nadine is on long service leave. Any longer-term staffing arrangements will be considered as part of normal workforce and service planning."
Community members will be required to call the DNS to have their nursing needs assessed and care arranged. Referrals from GPs and other health and community services will continue to be received by DNS, blood and urine samples will be collected and the podiatrist service will continue.
Denise Walker moved to Rawson seven years ago, after making a tree change from Cranbourne, with her husband Pete and 88-year-old mother-in-law.
The family has used the centre for wound dressings, blood tests, observations, wellness checks and advice.
Having a permanent and dedicated nurse close-by gives them peace of mind, and Denise said losing the service was "terrible."
"It feels daunting. We've just got to wait and see, I guess, but I'm not happy about it."
"I'm thinking, why should we miss out here? It's not just Rawson. The surrounding area, the community and people are going to be impacted as well.
"We pay our taxes, like everybody else. Why aren't we getting the same service?
"I think strategically where we are, within the Baw Baw Shire, we're right up in the corner and we're just out of the way and forgotten about, I think," Denise said.
Medical and nursing services have been slowly dwindling in the town over recent years.
Prior to Nadine starting, a nurse worked at the Rawson Community Health Centre five days a week, for the previous 30 years.
A GP clinic also operated three days a week and closed six years ago.
"It has wound down over the years. When I started, they had cut it from 40 to 24 hours. So, from five days a week, it was down to three," Nadine said.
She encouraged the community to keep using the nursing service, fearing they may lose it altogether otherwise.
"The community need to still come here. Yes, it will be different. But they've still got to come here. They've got to use it," she said.
"I know there's going to be a drop off. I know two people who are leaving the area already."
But Nadine was positive the DNS would provide a wealth of shared knowledge, skills and experience to the community.
A local ambulance service also is available, with paramedics having recently trained four new local first responders, who were on hand for emergencies.
"If you live rurally, you've got to be resilient," Nadine said.
Community members can contact the DNS on 5623 0627.