A redback spider bite that won’t heal is costing an Aussie mum $1300 a week

People are left in disbelief when they find out how much an Aussie mum pays per week to treat a spider bite infection because Medicare won’t. WARNING: GRAPHIC

A redback spider bite that hasn’t healed after almost a decade is costing Jenna Allen $1300 a week to treat because Medicare does not fund bandages and wound dressings.

The 28-year-old has for eight years lived with a massive inflamed and pus-ridden wound that stretches from her wrist to her elbow.

At times, she has had to be anaesthetised for the dressings to be changed because the pain is so severe she would otherwise vomit and pass out.

The mother of two is one of hundreds of thousands of Australians with serious wounds who are paying a crippling bandage tax to manage their condition.

Jenna Allen (pictured with her two children) was bitten by a redback spider while volunteering for the CFA has been fighting an lived with a massive inflamed and pus ridden wound that stretches from her wrist to her elbow. Picture: supplied

And the lack of funding for wound management is causing amputations and even death.

Because their bandage costs are not covered by Medicare, 200,000 wounds patients go to emergency departments annually and 32,000 of them are admitted for poorly managed wounds, costing the health and aged care system $3 billion each year.

Jenna Allen’s arm – more than eight years after she was bitten by a redback spider. Picture: Supplied

Wounds Australia said in aged care, painful pressure ulcers cost the health system almost $1 billion each year and resulted in more than 500,000 lost hospital bed days.

Inventor of ‘spray on skin’ and 2005 Australian of the Year Professor Fiona Wood and the Australian Medical Association (AMA) were campaigning for changes to get new Medicare rebates to cover the bandages and the general practice nurses who apply them.

“Each year over 420,000 Australians suffer chronic wounds, resulting in avoidable pain, infections, amputations and even death,” Professor Wood said.

Professor Fiona Wood AM.

The AMA’s plan would cost the government $23.5 million over four years but save the health system $203 million in reduced hospitalisations.

“This is a no-brainer for a government desperate to cut the deficit. I don’t know of many investments where for every $1 you spend, the return is $8.36, but this is the case with evidence-based wound care,” AMA vice-president Dr Danielle McMullen said.

Currently for a medical practice to secure a rebate from Medicare for treating wounds the GP has to be present to supervise the nurse.

The AMA wants this changed so a nurse can do the work and obtain the Medicare rebate.

Medicare funding for nurses to perform wound care would free up around 162,000 GP consultations.

“At the moment Medicare doesn’t cover the cost of the dressings we need to treat chronic wounds correctly, so doctors are either bearing the costs themselves or are forced to pass on the cost to patients, and that’s not something we like doing,” Dr McMullen said.

Australian Medical Association vice president Dr Danielle McMullen. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Wounds Australia chairperson Hayley Ryan wants aged care workers, nurses and doctors to be specifically trained in wound management.

“People are losing limbs because of wounds,” she said.

“If we put the wrong treatment on at the wrong time, then that wound can actually go backwards and be detrimental to the person’s life.”

Ms Allen said “people don’t tend to believe me when I say how much dressings cost”.

“Sometimes I actually have to wash my bandages and reuse them which is not sanitary but that’s how desperate and dire the situation gets,” she said.

Jenna Allen’s arm – more than eight years after she was bitten by a redback spider. Picture: Supplied

She has called toxicology experts at universities around Australia seeking help but no-one has been able to find a way to fix the wound. She has discussed amputation with her doctor.

“It literally has a mind of its own. One day it can look great and you think it’s going to be completely healed. But I’ve learned it can go that way and then very quickly break straight back down,” she said.

Jenna Allen has started a fundraiser on GoFundMe. If you want to donate, click here.

Originally published as A redback spider bite that won’t heal is costing an Aussie mum $1300 a week