“Third world’: Fears healthcare is failing to support most vulnerable

There are concerns the Northern Rivers region could be missing out on specialist healthcare, after a Ballina resident reveals she was forced to wait weeks for an “urgent” operation.

Ballina District Hospital, Ballina. Photo Marc Stapelberg / The Northern Star

There are fears the Northern Rivers region could be missing out on specialist healthcare as one resident reveals she was forced to wait weeks for an “urgent” breast cancer operation.

Ballina resident Maralyn Sweeney is asking the government to provide answers after she was left with “no support” following a breast cancer diagnosis.

Mrs Sweeney said she was diagnosed on December 23 with Paget’s disease in the breast, but due to the Christmas break was forced to wait until January 13 for an operation at Ballina District Hospital.

“They said I need to get the surgery done as quickly as possible because it is a quick spreading cancer but everything shut down,” she said.

“Even the breast cancer support nurses were on holidays until January 18.

“It’s really bad.”

Now faced with seeing a radio oncologist about radiotherapy, she was told the only option was to travel to Lismore.

It would mean she would have to commute everyday for three weeks or find accommodation.
She said it wasn’t a viable option for all.

“Now I’m freaking out about what I’m going to do but at least I have a stepmother in Goonellabah,” she said.

“Imagine a pensioner, a 79-80 year-old who needed treatment daily?

“How much money is that going to cost the poor things to get to Lismore every day?”

Voicing her concerns about specialist care on Facebook, she was taken aback to finding GPs were even becoming rare to find in Ballina as some reported doctors were refusing new patients due to the demand.

“One lady who replied had to wait three weeks, what if you’re really sick?” Ms Sweeney said.

“Do you go to hospital wait four and a half hours?

“I’ve always had beef with Ballina and the lack of medical services, but to leave (Ballina) in the 80s and come back 40 years later and nothing’s changed – it’s a real eye opener.

“It’s pretty shabby, we’re not in a third world country but it’s starting to feel like it.”

Archived photo of Ballina District Hospital.

In response to Ms Sweeney’s case, Northern NSW Local Health District Chief Executive Wayne Jones said 99.9 per cent of urgent procedures across the Northern NSW Local Health District and October to December 2020 quarter were performed on time.

“Breast cancer surgery is provided by speciality surgeons as a network service across Lismore, Ballina and Casino. The surgery is undertaken at the most clinically appropriate site and procedures are scheduled based on clinical need,” he said.

“The time to surgery for each patient is individually determined, based on a clinical assessment by their own surgeon, who assigns the patient an urgency category.”

Chief executive of Northern NSW Local Health District Wayne Jones.

He did note it was possible there had been some closures over the December/January period but that NSW Health was working towards meeting Ballina’s population growth as part of their new Clinical Services Plan.

“As with many community health services, there is a period of reduced activity over the Christmas and New Year holiday period which coincides with staff leave,” he said.

“Ballina District Hospital is currently developing their Clinical Services Plan, which takes into account the health care needs of the growing population.

“This Plan will form part of the $80.4 million future redevelopment of Ballina District Hospital.

The redevelopment, announced in March 2019, will deliver a new emergency department, operating theatre and improved medical imaging and allied health services.

It builds on a previous $7.35 million upgrade, which provided Ballina residents with a new operating theatre and recovery area, medical imaging upgrades and back-of-house services.

According to Mr Jones the 2020-21 budget had also boosted funding for Northern NSW Local Health District by an almost $39 million increase.