Sarah is not safe anymore

Chris Garry | 3rd July 2009

THE one place where a terminally-ill Collingwood Park child and her family find relief is being taken away.

Amanda Punter with her daughter Sarah, who is diagnosed with Smith and Magenis Syndrome.

Damian Dunlop

THE one place where a terminally-ill Collingwood Park child and her family find relief is being taken away.

Eleven-year-old Sarah Punter and her parents are devastated that child respite centre, Zoe's Place, will be closed in two weeks after child abuse allegations caused sponsors to withdraw funding.

When Sarah, who has several health complications, was two-years-old, she dropped below her birth weight and was given three months to live.

But somehow she has fought on and her mother, Amanda Punter, said a large reason for her improved health was the care Zoe's Place gave her.

“Sarah loves it there, all the nurses have been nothing but amazing to Sarah and us.”

Last month the Queensland Council of Nurses investigated Zoe's Place, which is located in Mt Ommaney, after a former nurse claimed sick kids were left in soiled clothes and children were locked in rooms for hours at a time.

Mrs Punter said she had nothing but praise for the centre nurses.

“We needed Zoe's Place, the allegations against them don't make sense,” she said.

The Punter family - Amanda and her husband Richard have three other healthy children - only recently discovered Sarah's condition was a recognised illness.

Sarah has Smith and Magenis Syndrome, which is a physical and mental handicap.

When describing Sarah's health, Mrs Punter said it was easier to list what does work, rather than what does not.

“Sarah can see, hear and is somewhat able-bodied, but there is not much else that works properly.”

“Sarah can't speak, she doesn't sleep, she self mutilates and has to be fed through a stomach tube, and her liver is as bad as a 40-year-old alcoholic's.

“But she is such a great kid and she's done really well to still be here, but we do need a break every now and then from staying up all night watching over her.”

Zoe's Place, which is Queensland's only hospice for terminally ill children, will shut its doors on July 13.

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Posted by PatriciaPeterse from Riverview, Queensland

04 July 2009 2:44 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »

Is this really about cost cutting? Who was the nurse who lodged the complaint? A disgruntled former employee? Was it a genuine concern that was raised? If so, then certainly the issue would need to be addressed. But why close down the entire centre? Why not replace whoever is in charge? Or the individual nurse/s who have engaged in misconduct? If it's been decided that the centre should close, then what were the findings of the investigation? Is anyone being charged? Or is this another cheap way of shutting down yet another invaluable service?