Legislative Council, Thursday 27 October 2022

Ms FORREST (Murchison) - Mr President, I rise to make a brief contribution on the adjournment about access to radiology and oncology services on the north-west coast. We know, particularly from our rural health committee report, that people in rural and regional Tasmania have poorer health outcomes generally and poorer access to health services. The development of the North West Cancer Centre at the North West Regional Hospital was welcome.

One of our wonderful philanthropists, Dale Elphinstone and his wife, Cheryl, provided significant funding to support the building and the development of the cancer centre, including the provision of scholarships for radiation therapists to undertake their training.

It was a concern last week when I received a message from a constituent of mine raising concerns. I will read it in part. She said to me:

I have some massive concerns and I am wondering if you would find out the outcome, please, as I can only imagine I and many others are vulnerable and scared. My oncologist has resigned, the second within the month, numerous nursing staff, the nurse in charge and admin staff. I wish her oncologist all the best on her next adventure. The lady has been a breath of fresh air and hope. We cannot be without a regular permanent oncologist. Our care is complex. This reminds of oncology seven years ago before we had the cancer centre there and we are going backwards. This unit covers King Island, the west coast, as well as the north-west coast.

Around the same time, there was an article referring to the constituent's story in The Advocate. I will read part of that because I want to then go on to highlight why this is a matter of urgency and why we might need a slightly different approach in the interim.

The report in The Advocate stated:

While full locum coverage is being sought, patients requiring consultation with an oncologist will receive support from clinicians in the Northern Cancer Service in Launceston via telephone, Telehealth or in person in Launceston if a face-to-face consultation is required.

Remembering, some of these patients travel from the west coast and Circular Head and King Island to receive this advice. It is not an easy drive, particularly since the bridge went down, or was damaged and partly closed. Back to the article:

After her last treatment, the nursing staff who at least had care for her previously and knew that she often needed a blood transfusion, thought that on this occasion it was required but the Launceston doctor said no, they couldn't override the doctor.

This is the other patient's story. The one who raised it first was having the same story as this second constituent who contacted me today. As oncology patients often do, she needed a blood transfusion. She has had many blood transfusions through her very complex care but she was told no, she could not have it because the Launceston doctor said they could not override another doctor. She was also told to stop taking some of the medications she was taking. This is the second constituent who contacted the office today. She said - I think by her own doctor. I am not sure as there are so many names and details in the story. She called on Tuesday night to say she was in the North West Regional Hospital with a blood clot and has been put on blood thinners. I am not saying this is necessarily related, probably just another complication, was her story.

This person who should have been having relatively straightforward treatment has had significant interruption. She is not the only one. There are many others and we are seeing, sadly, a lack of continuity of care, conflicting advice, orders and drugs and medications being changed, blood transfusions not provided when possibly clinically indicated. I cannot be sure of that because I am not the doctor making the decision there.

I note the THS are saying they are seeking to recruit locums and that is great but we cannot have this sort of situation continue where you are having already vulnerable patients, those likely to have poorer health outcomes, having such conflicting and inconsistent care in an area that is already challenging.

I urge the Government to look at how else they might be able to support the North West Regional Hospital oncology centre and radiation facility. That may mean rotating more staff through from the LGH, Hobart or somewhere, or even bringing them over from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre or wherever it is necessary to ensure that patients get proper care and at least some chance of recovery from their cancers.

The way it is at the moment is clearly unacceptable. This is just two patients who have been in touch with me with very similar stories, which is very concerning. I ask the Government to have a serious look at that and see what else can be done to assist the patients using that cancer centre.