Following on with the story this week....

I'm sure everyone is now up-to-date with the lung transplant funding crisis this week, but there are a couple of really good articles in the Age today.

Lack of cash could de-rail transplant program
Politics at play in the Gift of Life


I'm going to add links to all of the articles from this week, just as a reference point:

• Sept 17, 2011 - Lung transplant cutback plan beggars belief

• Sept 22, 2011 - Transplants under funding pressue

• Sept 24, 2011 - Alfred closes the door on transplants

• Sept 24, 2011 - Longer wait for lung transplants

• Sept 27, 2011 - Patients wait for lungs as political spat grows

• Sept 29, 2011 - Lung patients breathe easy as program resumes  (and by the way, this is a ridiculous headline as no-one waiting for a lung transplant is breathing easy)

• Oct 1, 2011 - Lack of cash could de-rail transplant program

• Oct 1, 2011 - Politics at play in the Gift of Life

I'll keep adding to the list as the long saga continues....

A Call for Help

I just arrived home from the Hello Etsy event that was on tonight, to find the following email in my inbox from the Heart and Lung Transplant Trust (Victoria) Inc

Page Link

The Age newspaper reported on 17 September that The Alfred is considering restricting the number of lung transplants it performs due to budgetary constraints. 

Read the full article on the Age website here and a further article dated September 22nd here. 

If there is one issue our Trust should take a stand on it is this one.

As we all know, transplant is lifesaving surgery and the suggested reduction in the lung transplant program will mean likely premature death for some of those on the waiting list.  In addition, it will also have an adverse impact on donor rates which defeats the purpose of recent government expenditure and advertising that has gone into this great initiative.

The Trust is deeply disturbed by this report and is considering how best to address the issue with The Alfred and various government stakeholders. 

The Committee urges all members to take up this fight with their State government representative. 

We would also encourage letters be sent to the following recipients:

Minister for Health
The Hon. David Davis, MLC
GPO Box 4057
Melbourne
Victoria 3001
david.davis@parliament.vic.gov.au

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Premier of Victoria
The Hon. Ted Baillieu, MP
Office of the Premier
1 Treasury Place
GPO Box 4912V V
Melbourne
Victoria 3002
ted.baillieu@parliament.vic.gov.au

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Andrew Way - Chief Executive
The Alfred
P.O Box 315
Prahran
Victoria 3181
Andrew.Way@alfred.org.au

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Members may wish to use the following wording to help their drafting.

• Example government letter here
• Example Alfred letter here

Can you spare 15 minutes for me.... please?