I am a resident of Bellorana Nursing Home following a stroke, I suffered some years ago. I write this letter after being upset and alarmed at the tone and statements made by D Anderson in the Courier-Sun in September 14.
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It was a letter, I feel, written by a stirrer who has not found out the true story.
The Bellorana Watson Street building was built in 1975 long before the modern and latest regulations for the fitting of water sprinklers in ceilings of buildings used in structures like ours. The cost to modernise the fire sprinkler system in Watson St Hostel would have approached 1 million dollars. This is a very old building.
Our principals decided to build a new building with the necessary modern sprinkler systems would be incorporated – obviously this is common sense. A million dollars is a big deal, but it’s a good investment. The decision caused many consequences the first being to move residents and staff from Watson Street. This was difficult and required planning to cover 24-hour, seven-days-a-week staffing of the facility. The medical side had to be maintained with medication distribution done on time every time. The meals had to be continued on time every time. But it was clear that some of the doctors do not necessarily work in the new locations where their patient would be.
There are several things to consider about the new building.
Would the move increase running costs? Would friends and relatives be able to visit their loved ones? (The answer is yes of course they can).
Would there be staffing problems in the new location? (The answer is no, it will have to employ more staff, creating more jobs for the town’s residents).
RFBI is in the planning stage with council about new structures to be built. Every resident who is to be moved, has been told what is available now, they have been taken to the other facilities to view the rooms and make their own decisions as to if they accept or reject the room offer. D Anderson must know that every move the RFBI makes is subject to government scrutiny. The government approves or changes planning procedures to comply with legislation. The RFBI is not a free agent. I assure readers that I am not writing this letter as an RFBI employee. I am a 90-year-old Australian with a bad temper and a chip on my shoulder who happens to have lived in both Watson St and the Bellorana Nursing Home.