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Wednesday, 04 March 2009 |
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Mr MIKE BAIRD (Manly) [5.33 p.m.]: I have another sad health story for the House. A local family came to see me out of desperation about the plight of their elderly father. They told me that 89-year-old Reginald Coelli is virtually a hostage in Manly Hospital. He fears that he will spend his final days there because he cannot be transferred anywhere else. Mr Coelli contracted the super bug while in the hospital and his family quite fairly claims that the health system has abandoned him. Hospital staff have told them that there is nothing more that they can do to help him. He can either stay in hospital or go home. However, Mr Coelli needs 24-hour care, which makes the situation much more complicated. I call on the Government to find a solution and to help Mr Coelli and his family—or, indeed, other families—avoid any further suffering. This is not an attack on the staff of Manly Hospital—the community is extremely proud of the work done by the nurses and doctors at the hospital in the current circumstances—rather, it is a broad-ranging health issue.
Mr Coelli was admitted to hospital on 4 February suffering a stroke. He is also suffering from renal failure and leukaemia. On 9 February his family was notified that he was to be moved to Manly Waters Private Hospital for rehabilitation. However, the hospital told the family that other patients—including a patient in the same room as Mr Coelli—had contracted the super bug and that he would need to be tested. The family were informed on 10 February that Mr Coelli had tested positive and that the infection was incurable. His family was not sure what that meant for him.
The nub of the issue is that the health system should take responsibility for Mr Coelli because he was in its care when he contracted the super bug and he has nowhere else to go. He has been abandoned because no other hospital will take him. Even if he could go home, he needs 24-hour care. His 87-year-old wife is confined to a wheelchair. In fact, while visiting her husband she unfortunately had an accident involving a nurse who slipped and she now has trouble with her eye. This is a difficult time and this family needs support. Suzanne Young, Mr Coelli's daughter, is extremely worried about the impact of this situation on her father's health and the quality of the rest of his life. Mr Coelli believes that he will die in Manly Hospital. His family has asked me to raise as a matter of urgency what the hospital intends to do about Mr Coelli contracting the super bug and how the health system can support him.
This is another sad tale about the health system. This 89-year-old man is afraid that he will die in hospital and his family is concerned about his welfare. Members of the family cannot look after him and the health system cannot support him. I ask the health system and the Minister in particular to take on board this family's plight and to see what they can do. We heard this week about cancer sufferers being unable to access treatment. The New South Wales Government must understand these cases and ensure that the health system responds to individuals rather than simply managing crises. I am not pretending to be an expert but I believe this super bug outbreak will have widespread implications. The outbreak has occurred for a reason and we must find out who is responsible. The Government must also provide ongoing support for those affected.
It would be remiss of me not to mention that the Government must expedite the construction of the Northern Beaches hospital. I commend the nurses and doctors at Manly Hospital and I also commend the staff at Mona Vale Hospital. The nurses, doctors, other clinicians and the community are at one about the need for this new hospital. I understand that the Minister has applied for funding under the Infrastructure Australia program, and I ask him to expedite that application and to personally encourage Kevin Rudd to examine both hospitals. If he did, he would know that this is a priority of the highest order.
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