Carol Markulic wants Shellharbour kids to have access to the same level of hospital treatment kids in Wollongong have. Photo: Zoe Cartwright.
Warilla great-grandmother Coral Markulic is on a one-woman crusade for a children’s ward to be included as part of the new Shellharbour Hospital.
She’s door-knocked local businesses, written to politicians, picketed and hosted a free barbecue to rally the community behind a petition for the service.
After a disappointing response from local MP Anna Watson and Health Minister Ryan Park, Coral is determined to get 10,000 signatures on the petition, which would entitle it to be put before the Legislative Assembly.
Visitors to Warilla Grove will have seen the chalkboard and table outside her home, decorated with bright yellow potted portulacas, pens and blank petition pages.
She’s halfway to her goal, with 5000 hard copy signatures and hundreds more online.
“Our kids need a children’s ward, and I want to fight for it,” she said.
“People have asked why, when my kids are grown up now – it’s not about my kids, it’s about everyone’s kids.
“I have a couple of little great-grandchildren with Marfan syndrome, and they’re very sick. There’s no cure, but this is something I can do.
“Politicians can spend money on all these silly things; why not give our kids the right to a hospital?”
Asked about plans for paediatric services at the new hospital, a spokesperson for the Illawarra-Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) said children who needed overnight stays or who had more complex health needs would be transferred to Sydney or Wollongong hospitals.
The hospital will be able to provide low levels of paediatric care to local children, including a new service that triages children separately from adults.
“The new Shellharbour Hospital will deliver improved access to paediatric care for the local community,” the spokesperson said.
“This will include the development of a new paediatric assessment unit (PAU), which will operate closely with the hospital’s expanded emergency department, with dedicated paediatric spaces.
“The PAU will operate seven days a week with specialised medical, nursing and allied health staff.
“It will incorporate ambulatory, outpatient, and hospital-in-the-home care.
“These services support the assessment, treatment and management of children with a range of conditions, including fractures and other minor injuries to chronic health disorders and post-surgery care.
“Paediatric patients who require increased overnight observation and management will continue to receive care at the region’s speciality facility, Wollongong Hospital.
“In some cases, patients with more complex health needs will be transferred to a Sydney children’s hospital due to the more highly specialised requirements.”
Women’s health advocates have also called for birthing suites to be included in the new Shellharbour Hospital. The nearest hospitals with birthing units are in Wollongong and Nowra.
The ISLHD spokesperson said population growth, historical and projected service activity and current and future staffing resources were considered when deciding which services the hospital would be equipped to provide.
To view Coral’s petition online head to change.org
