Latest news with #TheWestAustralian
West Australian
5 hours ago
- Health
- West Australian
Joondalup, Midland hospital staff encouraged to wear masks as high flu and COVID cases hit
Two Perth hospitals have given a directive to staff to wear masks after an unprecedented influx of influenza and COVID-19 cases. On Thursday, Joondalup Health Campus staff were requested to wear masks in all clinical areas to reduce the transmission of respiratory viruses. It is understood St John of God Midland Hospital has also encouraged staff to wear masks in clinical areas. It comes as The West Australian this week revealed the number of people in hospital with the flu had more than doubled the same time last year. A Ramsay Health Care WA spokeswoman said the request to wear masks came after an increase in infectious respiratory bugs at the hospital — including influenza and COVID. 'Joondalup Health Campus is encouraging staff to wear face masks in all clinical areas in response to an increase in respiratory viruses, including influenza and COVID-19, which the hospital is seeing more of than usual for this time of the year, including in relation to inpatients,' she said. 'At this stage, Hollywood Private Hospital, Glengarry Private Hospital and Attadale Rehabilitation Hospital haven't experienced the same level of heightened influenza and COVID activity, and therefore have not needed to make changes to mask wearing protocols. 'Ramsay Health Care will continue to closely monitor the situation across our WA hospitals.' She encouraged people to get the flu vaccination and keep up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations. Perth's northern suburbs have experienced the highest flu numbers in the metropolitan area with 2556 cases so far this year. The eastern suburbs are next with 2316 cases while the southern suburbs have recorded 1916 infections. A St John of God Health Care spokeswoman said 'ensuring the safety of patients and caregivers continues to be a top priority'. 'To be more agile in managing acute respiratory infections, a framework is in place that enables our wards or hospitals to introduce mask use during periods of increased risk, such as localised outbreaks,' she said. 'These decisions are made locally, based on clinical advice and current risk levels.' A WA Health spokesman said the department had not issued a State-wide directive to wear masks in hospitals. 'As per the COVID-19 infection and prevention control in WA healthcare facilities guidelines, healthcare and residential care facilities may implement routine mask-wearing as part of their winter respiratory virus strategy, during specific situations,' he said. WA Health figures show that, as of June 15, there have been 8708 recorded influenza infections so far this year, more than double the 3760 cases this time last year. Of those 8708 cases, 1579 people have been admitted to hospital — more than double the 749 at the same time last year. COVID cases have also been climbing with an average of 156 people in hospital with the infection, as of June 15, after 148 people the previous week. Health experts warned a further spike of flu was expected in coming weeks as the middle of winter nears. WA chief health officer Andrew Robertson urged anyone feeling sick to look after themselves. 'Obviously they need to rest and if they become unwell, particularly if they have any other health issues, consider going to the GP and to our emergency department, noting that it is a busy time of year for all of our hospitals,' he said on Wednesday.
West Australian
5 hours ago
- Business
- West Australian
Perth pet groomers reveal some clients spend tens of thousands of dollars a year on their pet's appearance
Perth dog groomers have revealed their clients are spending thousands of dollars a year to have their pups puffed every week with some treating their 'furbaby' to regular facials, manicures and jacuzzi sessions at elite puppy parlours. Bookings are through the roof and wait-lists are lengthy at dog grooming centres as pet owners prioritise pooch maintenance despite cost-of-living strains. Groomers told The West Australian the rise in apartment living has boosted the popularity of small, non-shedding breeds who share a bed with their owner. 'I think due to a concentration of people living in small homes with small backyards — and more apartment-living — people are investing more in smaller companion breads,' Couture Canine co-founder Charmaine Cayeux said. 'We're growing away from chucking a dog in a kennel in the backyard. None of our clients do that, their dogs are inside. 'They're like velcro dogs so people want their dogs to be clean like children, they don't want them to have a grubby face or bottom, they want them clean and tidy and presentable.' Ms Cayeux's luxury services, which include doggy facials, jacuzzi sessions, nail painting and stylised haircuts, can range between $150 to $500. Couture Canine regular Emma Carruthers told The West she travels half an hour from Alkimos to the West Perth puppy salon because she 'only wants the best' for her Bichoodle Maru. 'I wanted to go there at first because they looked really fancy and I just wanted the best for my baby,' Ms Carruthers said. 'I tried them out and all the girls are super lovely and she's really happy here, she always comes out with a wagging tail so we keep coming back. 'I've never been anywhere as good as this place . . . she's never come out with a bad haircut.' Her 11-month-old 'baby' has a weekly bath and blow-dry, a haircut every six to eight weeks, and enjoys the jacuzzi and nail painting services on special occasions. 'I wanted to do it often just cause I don't like having a dirty dog and she sleeps in the bed with me so it's just nice to have her clean,' Ms Carruthers said. 'I like how fluffy she gets as well, she gets really curly when she gets wet so it's nice to get her blow-dried so she's all nice and fluffy.' The company has a wait-list with more than 50 dogs from all over the State who face a queue of at least a year to join the list of regular clients willing to fork out tens of thousands of dollars every year to maintain their pet's immaculate appearance. Australia has one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world, so it is no surprise that dog grooming businesses are booming in the west. FurBaby Groom and Pamper — one of the oldest privately run dog-grooming salons in WA — opened 10 years ago in Perth's northern suburbs. The owner Shari Fiorentino said the demand for her services has never been higher with some customers paying her close to $5000 a year to wash their dog once a week. 'The need for grooming has gone up exponentially since we started 10 years ago,' she said. 'People say 'I'll try from home' and then four weeks later they're back and they're like 'so that didn't work'. 'Let's face it, we don't want to be sleeping next to a smelly little thing so everyone's getting their dogs washed a lot more often than what they used to because they're living a lot closer to us humans than what we have ever seen before.' Marian Gorman, the owner of Madame Ma's dog-grooming service in West Perth, said her regular customers spend upwards of $7000 a year because 'dogs are family members that parents treat like babies'. 'They're so clever and intuitive and they are their owner's best friend, fur-baby and confidant all in one,' Ms Gorman said. The dog groomers confirmed poodle cross breeds like cavoodles, spoodles and groodles are by far their most regular clients. Barking Butler Grooming Studio co-founder Charlotte Butler said their four-legged clients are required to be groomed every eight weeks but often choose a weekly appointment. 'Consistency in grooming is the key to maintaining optimal coat and skin health,' she said. 'Our clients want their dogs to feel comfortable, stay healthy, and yes, look beautiful — and they understand that takes regular maintenance. 'More and more, we're seeing pet parents treat grooming not as a luxury, but as an essential part of their dog's health and well-being — and it's a beautiful thing.'
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Perth dog owners spending thousands pampering their pooches
Perth dog groomers have revealed their clients are spending thousands of dollars a year to have their pups puffed every week with some treating their 'furbaby' to regular facials, manicures and jacuzzi sessions at elite puppy parlours. Bookings are through the roof and wait-lists are lengthy at dog grooming centres as pet owners prioritise pooch maintenance despite cost-of-living strains. Groomers told The West Australian the rise in apartment living has boosted the popularity of small, non-shedding breeds who share a bed with their owner. 'I think due to a concentration of people living in small homes with small backyards — and more apartment-living — people are investing more in smaller companion breads,' Couture Canine co-founder Charmaine Cayeux said. 'We're growing away from chucking a dog in a kennel in the backyard. None of our clients do that, their dogs are inside. 'They're like velcro dogs so people want their dogs to be clean like children, they don't want them to have a grubby face or bottom, they want them clean and tidy and presentable.' Director and Founder of Couture Canine Charmaine Cayeux with Maru the Bichoodle getting her nails painted. Credit: Jackson Flindell / The West Australian Ms Cayeux's luxury services, which include doggy facials, jacuzzi sessions, nail painting and stylised haircuts, can range between $150 to $500. Couture Canine regular Emma Carruthers told The West she travels half an hour from Alkimos to the West Perth puppy salon because she 'only wants the best' for her Bichoodle Maru. 'I wanted to go there at first because they looked really fancy and I just wanted the best for my baby,' Ms Carruthers said. 'I tried them out and all the girls are super lovely and she's really happy here, she always comes out with a wagging tail so we keep coming back. 'I've never been anywhere as good as this place . . . she's never come out with a bad haircut.' Her 11-month-old 'baby' has a weekly bath and blow-dry, a haircut every six to eight weeks, and enjoys the jacuzzi and nail painting services on special occasions. 'I wanted to do it often just cause I don't like having a dirty dog and she sleeps in the bed with me so it's just nice to have her clean,' Ms Carruthers said. 'I like how fluffy she gets as well, she gets really curly when she gets wet so it's nice to get her blow-dried so she's all nice and fluffy.' The company has a wait-list with more than 50 dogs from all over the State who face a queue of at least a year to join the list of regular clients willing to fork out tens of thousands of dollars every year to maintain their pet's immaculate appearance. Australia has one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world, so it is no surprise that dog grooming businesses are booming in the west. Maru the Bichoodle getting her nails painted. Credit: Jackson Flindell / The West Australian FurBaby Groom and Pamper — one of the oldest privately run dog-grooming salons in WA — opened 10 years ago in Perth's northern suburbs. The owner Shari Fiorentino said the demand for her services has never been higher with some customers paying her close to $5000 a year to wash their dog once a week. 'The need for grooming has gone up exponentially since we started 10 years ago,' she said. 'People say 'I'll try from home' and then four weeks later they're back and they're like 'so that didn't work'. 'Let's face it, we don't want to be sleeping next to a smelly little thing so everyone's getting their dogs washed a lot more often than what they used to because they're living a lot closer to us humans than what we have ever seen before.' Marian Gorman, the owner of Madame Ma's dog-grooming service in West Perth, said her regular customers spend upwards of $7000 a year because 'dogs are family members that parents treat like babies'. 'They're so clever and intuitive and they are their owner's best friend, fur-baby and confidant all in one,' Ms Gorman said. The dog groomers confirmed poodle cross breeds like cavoodles, spoodles and groodles are by far their most regular clients. Barking Butler Grooming Studio co-founder Charlotte Butler said their four-legged clients are required to be groomed every eight weeks but often choose a weekly appointment. Barking Butler Grooming Studio co-founder Charlotte Butler. Credit: Barking Butler 'Consistency in grooming is the key to maintaining optimal coat and skin health,' she said. 'Our clients want their dogs to feel comfortable, stay healthy, and yes, look beautiful — and they understand that takes regular maintenance. 'More and more, we're seeing pet parents treat grooming not as a luxury, but as an essential part of their dog's health and well-being — and it's a beautiful thing.'
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Health
- Perth Now
Hospital staff urged to wear masks as respiratory bugs hit
Two Perth hospitals have given a directive to staff to wear masks after an unprecedented influx of influenza and COVID-19 cases. On Thursday, Joondalup Health Campus staff were requested to wear masks in all clinical areas to reduce the transmission of respiratory viruses. It is understood St John of God Midland Hospital has also encouraged staff to wear masks in clinical areas. It comes as The West Australian this week revealed the number of people in hospital with the flu had more than doubled the same time last year. A Ramsay Health Care WA spokeswoman said the request to wear masks came after an increase in infectious respiratory bugs at the hospital — including influenza and COVID. 'Joondalup Health Campus is encouraging staff to wear face masks in all clinical areas in response to an increase in respiratory viruses, including influenza and COVID-19, which the hospital is seeing more of than usual for this time of the year, including in relation to inpatients,' she said. 'At this stage, Hollywood Private Hospital, Glengarry Private Hospital and Attadale Rehabilitation Hospital haven't experienced the same level of heightened influenza and COVID activity, and therefore have not needed to make changes to mask wearing protocols. 'Ramsay Health Care will continue to closely monitor the situation across our WA hospitals.' She encouraged people to get the flu vaccination and keep up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations. Perth's northern suburbs have experienced the highest flu numbers in the metropolitan area with 2556 cases so far this year. The eastern suburbs are next with 2316 cases while the southern suburbs have recorded 1916 infections. A St John of God Health Care spokeswoman said 'ensuring the safety of patients and caregivers continues to be a top priority'. 'To be more agile in managing acute respiratory infections, a framework is in place that enables our wards or hospitals to introduce mask use during periods of increased risk, such as localised outbreaks,' she said. 'These decisions are made locally, based on clinical advice and current risk levels.' A WA Health spokesman said the department had not issued a State-wide directive to wear masks in hospitals. 'As per the COVID-19 infection and prevention control in WA healthcare facilities guidelines, healthcare and residential care facilities may implement routine mask-wearing as part of their winter respiratory virus strategy, during specific situations,' he said. WA Health figures show that, as of June 15, there have been 8708 recorded influenza infections so far this year, more than double the 3760 cases this time last year. Of those 8708 cases, 1579 people have been admitted to hospital — more than double the 749 at the same time last year. COVID cases have also been climbing with an average of 156 people in hospital with the infection, as of June 15, after 148 people the previous week. Health experts warned a further spike of flu was expected in coming weeks as the middle of winter nears. WA chief health officer Andrew Robertson urged anyone feeling sick to look after themselves. 'Obviously they need to rest and if they become unwell, particularly if they have any other health issues, consider going to the GP and to our emergency department, noting that it is a busy time of year for all of our hospitals,' he said on Wednesday.
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Winter festival with campfire, marshmallows and live music
An award-winning artistic director and performer is set to bring a fresh twist to a popular annual winter festival in Perth's south. James Berlyn is co-curating this year's Melville Midwinter event at Dyoondalup Point Walter Reserve on June 21 alongside the City of Melville's creative producer of arts and culture, Zoe Atkinson. Mr Berlyn has been a performer, director and art lecturer for 40 years and is best known for his time at the WA Theatre Company where he directed Rest. Your local paper, whenever you want it. Rest was an interactive experience staged amongst the tombstones at East Perth Cemetery in 2019. It was recognised with the Theatre Award and The West Australian Arts Editor Award. This weekend's free event, which celebrates the winter solstice and the Noongar season of Makuru, will feature a series of musical, dance, visual art and spoken word performances ahead of the event's climax, a mass plunge of willing participants off the jetty. Mr Berlyn said the Melville Midwinter event is committed to 'embracing time and culture' with the return of crowd-favourite activities including marshmallow roasting by the fire. 'Even though it's the middle of winter, people can come together and celebrate at a time when we often have our heads down and were just kind of getting through and surviving,' he said. James Berlyn is co-curating this year's Melville Midwinter event at Dyoondalup Point Walter Reserve on June 21. Credit: Iain Gillespie / The West Australian 'There will be spoken word storytelling, there will be poetry, shadow puppetry, a variety of music and some cultural leaders presenting work in a way that I think is really quite unique and spellbinding. 'Of course, there are some things that had to come back like the marshmallows and the jetty jump for the brave who really want to embrace the nature of cool water at that time of year.' Among the other food offerings will be mulled wine and hot soup. As the sun sets lanterns will light the way to the performance stations up Dyoondalup Hill. The Melville Midwinter, which celebrates the winter solstice and the Noongar season of Makuru, will feature a series of musical, dance, visual art and spoken word performances ahead of the events climax, the mass plunge off the jetty. Credit: The City of Melville Among this year's performers is the Kangaroos With Machine Guns band who are scheduled to debut a seven-minute song made especially for the Melville Midwinter. Melville mayor Katy Mair said the event, from 5pm to 8pm, is a chance for the community to toast the longest night of the year. 'Melville Midwinter has become a much-loved winter celebration in the local community,' she said. 'We're proud to be able to curate some of the best local talent across a wide range of arts offerings and create a platform for everyone in the community to celebrate the season.'
