Daniel Andrews apologises for Natalie Hutchins’ ‘roll with the punches’ comment

Dan Andrews has apologised for an MP who said cancer patients sometimes have to “roll with the punches”, saying her words were “unwisely” chosen.

Daniel Andrews has apologised after a government minister told a cancer patient she should “roll with the punches”.

In a press conference on Thursday the Premier said Education Minister Natalie Hutchins had chosen her words “unwisely”.

He said she had been attempting to tell the story of her own husband’s journey with cancer.

“Each of us have got our own stories and tell our own, you know, our own experience when it comes to cancer care. Sometimes you don‘t choose your words as best you should. But importantly I apologize,” he said.

Kylie Hennessy, 50, is awaiting major brain surgery to remove a brain tumour and was unable to get the required scan in Victoria, forcing her to travel to Adelaide.

Kylie Hennessy with her husband, Jason Hennessy. Picture: Supplied

Mrs Hennessy had been unable to access an FMRI scan due to none of the machines in Victoria being in a functional condition.

There was a “miscommunication” and an opportunity for Mrs Hennessy to have her scan done at a research institute was not properly communicated to her or her family.

“I just don’t think that anyone had told the patient so. I apologise for any inconvenience and our commitment is to learn from this,” Mr Andrews said.

He also said if it was revealed Victoria needed to buy more fMRI machines then they would.

“I think the issue here is not if there’s a shortage of machines, there are multiple machines and they do from time to time need to be taken out of service. And we do that in a very careful way to plan and program, for instance maintenance,” he said.

“It’s not (Mrs Hennessy’s) fault, that’s on us and I apologize. If the family wants a phone call, the Minister or myself are more than happy to talk to them.”

This apology came at a press conference where Mr Andrews announced an election promise to boost healthcare by expanding the Wonthaggi Hospital and introducing a new specialised paramedic workforce.

Asked about the matter at a press conference on Wednesday morning, Education Minister Natalie Hutchins said sometimes equipment was not available and that, from personal experience, people sometimes had to “roll with the punches”.

Ms Hutchins said she had seen first-hand the challenges people suffering from cancer went through when her late husband was being treated.

Education Minister Natalie Hutchins says from time to time medical equipment is not available. Picture: Gary Ramage

“I know from time to time from personal experience that equipment isn’t available.

“I’m just talking about the experiences that I’ve had with the health system in the past and that is some of the realities, particularly when you have very limited technicians and specialists in any state and territory, running these really hi-tech pieces of equipment. From time to time, they may not available.”

Mrs Hennessy’s husband, Jason, was shocked by the minister’s comments.

“It’s ­insensitive and disgusting. What planet are these people on?” he said.

“This government has a black heart.

“This is above politics, this is about people’s lives.”

Mr Hennessy said he was appalled at the government’s dismissive attitude despite his wife’s critical condition.

He also clarified the couple’s reason for travelling to Adelaide for the vital scan.

“It was going to take months here. We made the choice because if we waited months Kylie may have died.”

Ms Hutchins tweeted an apology and clarification on Wednesday afternoon.

“Having been through the pain and uncertainty of fighting cancer with my late husband Steve, I know how distressing and anxious this time is for the Hennessy family,” she said. “I understand this may have caused some distress and I am sorry that this has happened.”

Ms Hennessy says she is still not sure when the surgery will go ahead.

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said on Wednesday afternoon that she wanted to “acknowledge the really stressful set of circumstances” the Hennessy family was ­experiencing.

She said there had been a miscommunication, with ­Alfred Health working to book a scan for Ms Hennessy at the Florey Institute in Parkville after its own machine had failed.

But this was not “communicated in a timely way”.

“Arrangements were being made to receive the scan that she needed but before that was able to be communicated she had made her own ­arrangement (in South Australia),” Ms Thomas said.

She said she had not spoken to Ms Hennessy but would welcome the opportunity to do so.

Opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier slammed the comments as “shameful and insulting”, adding: “It demonstrates just out of touch and uncaring this government is when it comes to the needs of patients”.

Earlier this month Ms Thomas came under fire over comments about the unexpected death of a 74-year-old grandmother.

Bernice Snell, mother of Opals basketballer Belinda, died after waiting more than six hours to see a doctor at the Latrobe Regional Hospital.

Following medical advice she had attended the emergency department after experiencing pain following a change in her medication.

Asked about the death, Ms Thomas said: “I need to make this point, people in our health system do not always have good outcomes”.