Adelaide man Graham Wilson’s agonising wait to see cancer specialist after positive test

An Adelaide man fears he might die after a five-month wait to see a bowel cancer specialist – despite a history of the disease and a positive result from an at-home testing kit.

Opposition health spokeswoman Ashton Hurn said the state government needed to urgently investigate Mr Wilson’s delays to secure an appointment. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Emma Brasier

The opposition is calling on the state government to urgently investigate a five-month delay for a man who may have bowel cancer to see a specialist.

Opposition Leader Davis Speirs and health spokeswoman Ashton Hurn said Seaview Downs grandfather Graham Wilson was notified in February through the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program that his bowel cancer test was positive but is still waiting for an appointment at the Flinders Medical Centre’s Gastroenterology Clinic.

Mr Speirs said he had been contacted by a number of people in the same position.

“It’s unacceptable that we have South Australians enduring agonising months of waiting to see a specialist, putting their health and even potentially their lives at risk,” Mr Speirs said.

Opposition leader Davis Speirs and health spokeswoman Ashton Hurn with Seaview Downs man Graham Wilson, who may have bowel cancer but can't get in to see a specialist. Picture: Supplied

Mr Speirs said Mr Wilson had a history of cancer but had been “left in limbo” for five months.

“These delays are yet another sign of a broken health system, despite Labor’s promises to fix it,” Mr Speirs said.

Mr Speirs called on Premier Peter Malinauskas and Health Minister Chris Picton to “resolve these delays as a matter of urgency”.

Mr Wilson, who has previously suffered from bowel cancer, said he tested positive via the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program test in February and again when retested by his GP. But, he said despite three referrals from a specialist, and two referrals from his GP he is yet to hear from FMC about an appointment.

He said he had called and visited the hospital, eventually discovering they lost his paperwork. His positive test means his case is “urgent”.

“A week later I got a letter saying I am on the urgent list,” he said.

Five weeks on, he still does not have an appointment to see a specialist booked. He is so “stressed out”, having previously survived having bowel cancer 30 years ago he is seeing a psychologist.

“It’s the fear of the unknown, when you go to bed every night,” he said.

“Are they going to have to take a section of my bowel? It’s the unknown.

“I’ve done all the chasing up I can possibly do and I’m not getting anywhere. All I know is my name is on the list … how big is the list?”

He questioned the purpose of a national screening program if help is not available for a positive result.

“Why have the bowel (screening) test if you can’t get in to hospital to save your life?”

He said his biggest fear was death.

“I’ve got a lot of living to do yet, I’m only 70 this year. Why should someone have to die because you can’t get in to get a simple procedure?”

Opposition health spokeswoman Ashton Hurn said the government must “act immediately” to address the delays.

She said urgent cases in SA should be seen within 120 days, while the national guidelines were within 30 days.

“My heart breaks for Graham who’s been told he urgently needs a specialist appointment to determine if he has bowel cancer but he’s being left in limbo,” Ms Hurn said.

“Graham has done all the right things, followed the guidelines, and it’s so disappointing to hear that he’s now being given the run around.

“He just wants to secure an appointment.

“Early detection is vital because it allows for early treatment, therefore giving patients the very best chance of overcoming any illness.”

Health Minister Chris Picton said he was concerned to hear about Mr Wilson’s wait.

“(I) have asked the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network to look into his case and what can be done to assist get his appointment urgently.

“Colonoscopies are another area of our health system where we have inherited long delays from when David Speirs and the Liberals were in Government just over a year ago.

“David Speirs didn’t care when he was in government at the start of last year and when his government made hundreds of nurses redundant.

“The Liberals promised they would eliminate colonoscopy waiting lists when they were in government, but that was a broken promise.

“The waiting list for overdue elective surgery is also down by 40 per cent since this Government came to office – from 4,258 on March 20, 2022, to 2,585 as of yesterday.

“Labor has stopped the Liberals cuts and instead we are investing over $4 billion extra into our health system to address what we have inherited.

“Part of this is the health networks have been working with private hospitals to try and address these backlogs.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network said they would “be in touch with Mr Wilson to discuss the concerns he has raised”.

“We have had a specific focus on improving the long wait times to see a gastroenterologist in outpatients,” they said.

“We have reduced waitlists significantly with a plan that will see no patient waiting outside their clinically recommended time by June 24.”