WA Opposition leader Mark McGowan has called for an urgent fix to cold showers — on the coldest morning of the year — for residents at Perth Quadriplegic Centre in Shenton Park.
Mr McGowan said residents at Shenton Park facility are having to put up without a working hot water system and forced to have freezing cold showers on the coldest morning of the year.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology Perth had its coldest night of the year, with the temperature plunging to 5C at 5.11am. Jandakot got down to 3.3C at 4.26am and Perth Airport dipped to 3.6C at 5.25am.
The clear skies and lack of cloud, combined with a cold air mass from the south contributed to the chilly overnight temperatures.
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READ NOWIt is understood the state’s key facility for people with severe spinal injuries has been without hot water for several days.
Mr McGowan is calling for immediate action to fix the hot water issues.
“It’s just not fair that people who are vulnerable are being put in this situation and can’t even have a hot shower,” he said.
“I’m saying to the government: make it a priority today.”
“Fix this problem so it’s a permanent fix and people here can have decent showers into the future.”
Executive director of the quadriplegic centre Shane Yensch last year called for the whole facility to be redeveloped.
The 1960s facility has yet to be refurbished with modern facilities and struggles to accommodate electric wheelchairs.
Early last year a patient was scalded after a fault thermostat valve burst.
Mr McGowan said the ageing centre’s problems needed to be addressed before the next election and called on a stop to bandaid solutions.
Health Minister John Day told media on Monday the gas firing system for the boilers had been repaired and the Centre was managing shower schedules for the residents, while replacement parts for the piping network would be installed within a few days.
No plans have been finalised for upgrades or the establishment of a new centre yet but Mr Day said the State Government recognised the need for capital investment in the centre.
A steering committee had been appointed to plan the necessary developments and would be allocated $500,000 in this week’s State Budget to support their work, he said.
“I expect an update from the committee by the end of the year, with recommendations that will help drive the establishment of a new centre and the implementation of a new model of care to maximise community and in-home options for people with spinal cord injury,” he said.