Diabetic pensioner flies to Adelaide for treatment … and surgery is cancelled three times

Pensioner Joe Morrison flew in from Port Lincoln for spinal surgery … only to have it cancelled three times, leaving him out of pocket – and with no new appointment date.

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A diabetic pensioner who had major spinal surgery cancelled three times last week is out of pocket more than $800 after flying in from Port Lincoln, multiple taxi trips and extended hotel stays.

Joe Morrison, 70, a former schoolteacher who went on to work in the country health system, was given no future date for the neurosurgery after the third cancellation, blamed on a lack of beds at Flinders Medical Centre.

“We don’t want priority in the country, we just don’t want to be stuffed around,” Mr Morrison said.

He is one of hundreds of people having elective surgery for painful and debilitating conditions abruptly cancelled — and his saga started even before the official statewide “pause” on most elective surgery.

As the health system teetered towards the crisis that triggered a statewide internal emergency and indefinite cancellation of elective surgery, Mr Morrison was told by neurosurgeons a month ago they would operate on his central canal stenosis within 90 days and he could be called in at short notice.

The condition where bone compresses the spinal cord affects his ability to walk more than a short distance and to stand for more than a few minutes. He is a type 1 diabetic and has hypertension.

Joe Morrison, 70, of Port Lincoln, whose neurosurgery at FMC was repeatedly cancelled, on his return at Port Lincoln Airport. Picture: Supplied

Mr Morrison received a call on Thursday, May 23 to be in Adelaide the following day for an MRI, CAT scan and pre-operative requirements before the operation scheduled for last Monday.

He flew in alone, needing a walker to walk and manage his luggage, and was in a taxi when FMC staff rang to cancel the operation, blaming a bed crisis.

“They had no idea I had flown in from the country, or how much I had already spent,” he said.

After discussing his situation, Mr Morrison was rescheduled so he checked in at a hotel for the weekend and fasted from Sunday night.

“As a type 1 diabetic, I had to manage the significant challenge of achieving the right blood sugar level while fasting overnight,” he said.

Mr Morrison arrived at FMC at 6.45am on Monday but at 1.30pm a surgeon told him they had cancelled the rest of the neurosurgery list because of the bed crisis.

“They could offer me another spot on Wednesday morning and I would be first on the list so I booked myself into another hotel and spent more money on a taxi, meals and a room for two days,” he said.

However, on Tuesday he received a call to again cancel the surgery. This time, no new appointment was offered.

Mr Morrison said even after reimbursement under the Patient Assistance Transport Scheme he was more than $800 out of pocket for no result.

“There is no guarantee this scenario won’t be repeated when I get the call next time which makes it a financial risk, and with so much Covid about that is another risk,” he said

“Cancelling surgery when people have flown in and paid to stay in hotels really is no way to treat country people.”

Southern Adelaide Local Health Network chief executive Kerrie Freeman apologised to Mr Morrison for any inconvenience and expense caused as a result the postponements.

“We sought out every possible opportunity to carry out his surgery during a week of significant demand across the health service. His surgery is not overdue and is well within the clinically indicated 90 days for that category,” she said.

“During periods of significant demand, we must treat the sickest patients first, and Category 1 surgeries must take priority. We will be liaising with Mr Morrison to discuss rescheduling his surgery as a priority as soon as demand allows and ask him to contact us directly to discuss his concerns.”

Mr Morrison is among a growing group whose surgery to relieve conditions sometimes with excruciating pain and affecting quality of life are now on hold with the indefinite “pause” on elective surgery apart from category 1 and pediatric category 2.

SA Health uses three clinical urgency categories for elective surgery: Category 1 — procedures clinically indicated within 30 days; Category 2 — procedures clinically indicated within 90 days; Category 3 — procedures clinically indicated within 365 days.

Elective surgery such as joint replacements and colonoscopies is surgery deemed medically necessary but can be planned and booked in advance rather than emergency surgery.