Cancer patients allege being turned away from using community nursing on East Coast

DHHS setting dangerous precedent if it supports such action
Cancer patients in Buckland, Orford and Triabunna have alleged they have been denied community nursing treatment and support.

The Health Minister has now received two letters from the East Coast Cancer Care Support Group on this matter, alleging cancer patients had been being turned away from accessing community nursing services.

One of those patients who has contacted the Liberals sought assistance from community nursing to help showering after breaking a bone, and to re-apply bandages, but was refused help in the home. 

The patient rightly says there should be community nursing back-up for doctors in the region, and is reconsidering retiring in the region because of this experience.

The Liberals understand that if a person requires community nursing, they can ring their local community health service and self-refer.

This is confirmed in a letter by Health Minister, Lara Giddings, to the East Coast Cancer Care Group in August 2009 which states “residents of your community are able to access the same community nursing services as any person in Tasmania.  People can be referred to the service by any medical practitioner, allied health professional, family member, or alternatively a client can self refer”.

However, in the communities of Orford, Buckland and Triabunna this does not appear to be happening, as patients are alleging when they make contact with the community health centre, they are first asked which GP they attend, then referred back to that GP when what they have sought is in-home community nursing help.

All Tasmanians should have the right and opportunity to use the community nursing service, regardless of their choice of GP.

If the Health Minister or her Department has directed community nursing staff to deny treatment on the basis of a patient’s choice of GP, this is of real concern to the Tasmanian Liberals and this practice must be ceased.

Community nursing should be available to all those who require occasional or ongoing support in the home to maintain their health and well-being.

One of the objectives of this valuable service is to take the strain off acute health services yet at least one East Coast patient had to have an occupational therapist travel from Hobart to show her how to safely shower with a broken bone after requests for local community nursing were denied.

I call on the Minister to immediately investigate these claims.