Terminally-ill Bunbury man Peter Needham moved to Busselton Hospital in breakthrough for family and friends

Family and friends of a terminally ill Bunbury man who was moved to a hospital more than an hour away, have made a breakthrough in their fight to have him moved closer to home. Peter Needham, who has lived with multiple sclerosis for more than 30 years, was moved from St John of God Bunbury to Bridgetown Hospital having been told his hometown hospital needed to free up beds. The location shift made it difficult for his Bunbury-based support system to visit, including his 87-year-old mother who struggles to travel on her own accord and relies on others to make the 70 minute trek to see her son. But Friday saw Mr Needham moved again, this time to Busselton, which cuts travel time for family and friends by nearly half an hour. Close friend David Willis has been one of the drivers behind the Bring Peter Home campaign, and said the latest move was a nice stepping stone. “He’s got to Busselton, which is a good outcome, people can go and visit him now,” he said. “It’s a 45-minute drive rather than having to travel more than an hour.” But the 58-year-old Bunbury man still finds himself in limbo, as the National Disability Insurance Agency has ended his care arrangements and the WA Country Health Service says he does not require hospital-level care. Mr Willis said the difficult situation has put an unwelcome strain on the family. “He was in the palliative care unit at St Johns in Bunbury, but they said they need the bed, so they sent him down to Bridgetown,” he said. “His mother relies on other people to get there and he has a big support network here in Bunbury. “He has had MS for 30 years, he is almost legally blind, and has bone disease. “The added stress for him and his family is more than he should be made to bare.” A WACHS spokesperson said Mr Needham’s situation was a delicate one, because while he did not require hospital level care, they “feel deeply” for him and his family and have taken him in their care. “The WACHS is committed to kind, compassionate and patient centred care,” the spokesperson said. “That’s why when NDIS clients come to us, we help and do not turn them away despite the fact they may not require immediate hospital care. “While we share in his desire to get him as close to his family as possible, the fact is Bunbury is our biggest and busiest facility and we needed to ensure beds are available for emergency and critical care patients.” An NDIA spokesperson said while it was unable to comment on individual cases, the NDIA has processes in place to work with patients once they leave hospital. “The NDIA will continue to work with Mr Needham to ensure he has the disability-related support he needs,” the spokesperson said. The spokesperson said Mr Needham would be connected with one of its health liaison officers to help manage his transition to other accommodation in the future. The team behind the Bring Peter Home Facebook page has also reached out to local politicians, and Bunbury MLA Don Punch said he was working to help find a resolution. “The circumstances of Mr Needham demonstrate how important it is for people to be provided with support services close to home,” he said. Mr Willis said he still wanted to see his mate returned to Bunbury. “The end goal is still to get him back to Bunbury,” he said. “But it is a waiting game, and we don’t want to push ahead of anyone else in the line.” He said his old high school mate hadn’t lost any of his trademark sense of humour. “He has a great sense of humour. In the state he is in now he still comes up with jokes,” Mr Willis said. “His large circle of friends have all stuck by him and are trying to get him home. “We have all got his back and we’re right behind him.”