Breaking News
Meal mix-up
04Mar08
The Queen Victoria Memorial Home has become run-down and neglected, say its support group.
THE State Government is under pressure to reveal its plans for the future of the Queen Victoria Memorial Home at Picton after claims emerged last week residents were left without an adequate evening meal.
Queen Victoria Memorial Home Support Group Committee Inc chairwoman Christine Towndrow said "someone had to go out and buy tins of soup and bread so that the elderly residents could be fed" on the evening of Thursday, February 21. "I was told that a staff member had to go out and buy soup and bread," Mrs Towndrow, a former Wollondilly mayor, said. "I was very concerned to hear about this. We have nothing but praise for the staff who care for our elderly under such conditions of uncertainty."
But Sydney South West Area Health Service and the home's manager denied residents missed out on a meal, explaining there had been a menu change.
The committee, which has devoted years to lobbying to have Wollondilly shire's only aged care facility expanded and upgraded, fears the government is deliberating running down the home so it can sell the land.
"We are absolutely certain that the facility is being allowed to run down to suit the State Government's intention of selling off the land," Mrs Towndrow said.
"We ask for answers and plans but never get them.
"We are also trying to locate missing beds from the home. Our committee was granted funding for 30 low-care beds and rather than lose them, we voluntarily transferred them to the Sydney South West Area Health Service. We have been attempting to discover where they have disappeared to."
Macarthur Health Service and Queen Victoria Memorial Home general manager Amanda Larkin said residents did not miss out on their evening meal.
"All residents are provided with all meals and are well nourished," Ms Larkin said.
"On the mentioned evening, there was a change to the usual dinner menu. Fresh soup was not available on the day, however, commercially produced soup was provided."
State Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell called on the government to reveal its plans for the hospital.
"I am appalled that residents have had to suffer another example of Labor's mismanagement of essential public services," he said. "The only thing worse is the State Government's ongoing neglect of the Queen Victoria itself."
Mr O'Farrell said there was no more important role for the government than to provide proper care to senior members of the community.
Ms Larkin said the home's management was reviewing its transport arrangements after the committee revealed some residents missed out on an outing because the bus provided had no wheelchair access.
Wollondilly State Labor MP Phil Costa said he was constantly lobbying for the home to provide three levels of care.
"To do this we first have to change the zoning and call for expressions of interest from developers to build a hostel and SEPP 5 (State Environmental Planning Policy 5) accommodation," Mr Costa said.
"It is a constant battle as the State Government owns the land and the Federal Government is responsible for the provision of aged care."
