Ib Holmbaeck waits three years for knee replacement

As more than 100,000 Queenslanders join the queue to see a specialist, a Nanango retiree has spoken about the pain he has endured while waiting three years for life changing surgery - a wait he has now been told is far from over.

Ib Holmbaeck’s agonising three year wait for life changing operation.

The Queensland Health Services crisis has reached breaking point for many forced to wait years for life changing operations.

Regional Queenslanders in particular are feeling the pain, Nanango LNP MP Deb Frecklington reporting distress calls from South Burnett residents on a weekly basis.

Nanango pensioner Ib Holmbaeck, who was placed on the waiting list at Toowoomba Hospital for a full left knee cap replacement in May 2020, and had appointments with the specialist at Toowoomba Hospital in October 2021 and March 2022, was recently informed he “may” undergo surgery in 2024.

The 77-year-old retired marine engineer said the strong painkillers he has been taking while waiting for his surgery have damaged his kidneys.

“The x-ray shows my knee is bone on bone, which is agony but I can only take two Panadols a day because of my kidneys,” Mr Holmbaeck said.

Ib Holmbaeck was placed on the waiting list at Toowoomba Hospital for a full left knee cap replacement in May 2020.

“All I can do is watch Netflix all day so I’ve put on weight which has really affected my mental health.

“After working on ships every day for 50 years I can’t even walk to the letter box, never mind a boat,” he said.

Nanango LNP MP Deb Frecklington said she received calls from suffering residents weekly.

“The stories are heartbreaking, with people waiting years just to have their first appointment with a specialist,” Mrs Frecklington said.

“They are often suffering with great pain, with no light at the end of the tunnel,” she said.

Mrs Frecklington wrote to Health Minister Yvette D‘Ath on January 27, 2023, on behalf of Mr Holmbaeck, and told her he had to have his knee fixed before could access treatment for an ongoing back problem.

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A Darling Downs Health Service spokesperson said the service provided some of the best healthcare in the world, but like many other health systems across the state and country, they faced increased pressure.

“DDH treated 1448 elective surgery patients during the fourth quarter of 2022, with 98.1 per cent of the most urgent cases treated within the clinically recommended time,” they said.

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“Multiple Covid-19 waves and a severe flu season last year resulted in some non-urgent elective surgeries being rescheduled, with the most urgent elective surgeries prioritised.

“We remain committed to engaging honestly with patients about the current demand for surgery. We are looking forward to the completion of the new Toowoomba Day Surgery, which will provide additional surgical capacity for patients across the region.”

The spokesperson said the services category system, where 1 was most urgent and 3 least urgent, ensured that all patients who needed surgery could be treated in order of priority.

Mr Holmbaeck has been assessed as a Category 3 patient, which a DDHS spokesman said was a condition causing minimal or no pain, dysfunction or disability.

“Patients should have surgery within 365 days of being added to the waiting list,” he said.