Page: 2135
Mr ANDREW FRASER (Coffs Harbour) [4.44 p.m.]: Stan and Richard Pinkerton from Woolgoolga came to see me recently about their mother, Olive Pinkerton, who is aged 95. Over the years Olive Pinkerton, who is a pensioner, has been a great worker for the community. Until 15 July Olive lived in her own home and looked after herself. Olive has worked tirelessly for the Red Cross and other community organisations for many years. She is from the old school: she believes in rolling up her sleeves, getting the job done, and putting back into the community far more than she ever got out of it.
Prior to 15 July Olive had a minor fall in her home. Her sons, both retired paramedics or ambulance men, arranged for an ambulance to take Olive to hospital. After examining her, hospital staff said she was fine and sent her home. Olive's sons were somewhat upset that the hospital had sent their mother home so early because at age 95 she is somewhat frail. The next morning a neighbour visited Olive and found that she had again fallen and had a nasty gash to her shin. One of her sons said it was the worst kind of skin injury he had seen for a long while. He dressed the wound, called for an ambulance, and Olive was admitted to Coffs Harbour hospital.
Olive's wound was sutured and she was placed under care. Because of her age and the delicate nature of her skin she was kept in hospital from 15 July until 19 August. Without reference to Olive's two sons the hospital then transferred her to Bellingen hospital, on the basis that it needed to free up beds in Coffs Harbour. Olive's sons were not happy that they were not consulted, but they visited Olive daily and organised for someone to do her washing in Bellingen. They then asked the aged care assessment team to look at Olive with a view to admitting her to an aged care facility at Ozanam Villa after she left hospital. Olive remained in Bellingen hospital for a period of 10 days as her wounds still needed to be dressed daily and she was then discharged on 29 August. Her sons then arranged for her to be placed in Ozanam Villa, a self-care facility. On 31 August Mr Pinkerton was disgusted when he received a letter from the Mid North Coast Area Health Service in the following terms:
As from … 19/8/06 your mother, Olive Pinkerton was re-classified as a non-acute care patient and from that date will have to pay a charge of $35.80 ... per day. This charge cannot be claimed on Medicare or Private Health Fund.
No-one advised Olive's sons that this would happen. When she was receiving medical care and attention in Bellingen hospital no-one advised her sons that she was a non-acute care patient. As I said earlier, the hospital transferred her to Bellingen hospital without reference to her sons. If her sons had known, they probably would have arranged for her to be transferred to her own unit at Ozanam Villa. I call on the Government and the Minister for Gaming and Racing, and Minister for the Central Coast to forgo this $358 bill.
It is appalling that a pensioner who has given so much service to the community over a number of years, who was transferred from one hospital to another, and who was reclassified as a non-acute care patient is now facing a bill of $358. Olive's sons had her classified while she was in Bellingen but at no time were Olive or her sons advised that she was no longer an acute care patient. Olive's sons could have taken her home or had her placed at Ozanam Villa, which I hope is her new home for many years to come. It is only fair that the Mid North Coast Area Health Service and this Government wipe this ridiculous debt.
Mr GRANT McBRIDE (The Entrance—Minister for Gaming and Racing, and Minister for the Central Coast) [4.49 p.m.]: I note the comments by the honourable member for Coffs Harbour. I will make sure the matter is brought to the attention of the Minister for Community Services.