Issue 4 Page 6

S.T.A.R.S.

Southern Tasmanian Association for Respiratory Support & friends meets on the 1st Thursday of each month from 1pm at the Hobart Baptist Church Hall at 284 Elizabeth St, North Hobart. President – Gael Bradney - 6229 2982 Other Contact – Joan Kilmartin, Royal Hobart Hospital - 6222 7353 STARS & FRIENDS would like to thank Dr Jim Markos (Chairman –Tasmanian LungNet Support Groups), and everyone associated with supporting our LungNet Groups, without their help these Groups would not exist and people would lose a very important Life Line.

We would also like to wish everyone a Happy, Healthy, Christmas and New Year. IMPORTANT NOTE: Please bear in mind when reading this article, it has been written with to allowing Decision Makers to see a patients point of view, by no means is it intended to offend or cause any problems to any one in that position. I cannot recall anything that has “Put the Cat amongst the Pigeons” , quite like the hot topic of the new changes to the “Oxygen Supplies System”. It has made me realise only too well, how fortunate I am to be able to breathe well enough, so as not to require extra Oxygen. I too, have times where it is extremely hard to get the next breath and I would not wish that feeling on anyone ever.

Are the Decision Makers in perfectly good health themselves?

This may explain why we are being told we should conserve Oxygen by not going out places. If we stayed indoors at home we could probably get by with our 2 free cylinders a week.We are being told we should take a Concentrator along with us if we do dare to go out. Are the Decision Makers aware of the size and weight of a Concentrator? Do they realise a lot of patients and thier partners/carers are elderly? The partner/carer may well be of poor health themselves. How do they get all the gear needed in and out of the car, and to the area where they are to go. The Carers persevere with this problem, so as to allow their partner/ patient the privilege/luxury or right to what others take for granted, to some life outside the square we live in, and a simple change of scenery. This change could well be as simple as a visit to the Doctors, medical tests, visiting family or friends, supermarket, a park, or maybe even attending a STARS LungNet Support Group Meeting, (do not laugh, too true), is this too much to ask they say?

Issue 4 Page 6