Jamie
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Jamie is in his 30s. He has mobility issues and uses a motorised wheelchair. His support worker uses a hoist to lift him in and out of his wheelchair.
Recently Jamie had a health issue. He told the Royal Commission he needed his GP to examine him. However, the GP clinic didn’t have a hoist or an appropriate bed for Jamie to lie on safely.
Jamie and his support worker contacted almost 20 local doctors’ clinics – none of them had a hoist or an appropriate bed. Some doctors were interested in providing suitable equipment but said the cost was prohibitive. This was ‘quite disappointing’, Jamie said, ‘because it limits access to medical assistance’.
Jamie’s support worker contacted the federal minister who said it was a state issue. The state government told him ‘it’s up to the individual practice to purchase their own hoist and maintain it and train the staff in being able to use it’.
Thinking he would use his own hoist, Jamie then tried to find a doctor who made house calls.
‘[But] it’s really hard to find a doctor anywhere that will come to your house – that’s a thing of the past.’
Jamie said the few doctors who do make house calls are so busy they won’t take on new clients.
The last option was the emergency department of his local hospital. Jamie was reluctant to go because of an experience he had about 10 years ago.
At the time he had severe cellulitis. His GP said he needed intravenous antibiotics and told him to go to the local hospital immediately.
It was around 7 pm when Jamie arrived at emergency. After a lengthy wait he eventually saw a doctor. The doctor said ‘we’re not admitting you because you’ll be too much work for the nurses’. Jamie thought this was ridiculous.
Jamie went back to the hospital the next day and saw another doctor who admitted him immediately.
Jamie says ‘so that’s about the doctor’s perception of disability … that’s discrimination’.
‘If something happened to me that night and I died … I was denied access to the hospital because one person thought I’d be too much work.’
Jamie is also concerned support workers aren’t allowed to be with him when he’s in hospital. The hospital told him it was an insurance issue. ‘The role of the support worker is very important because it’s the person who knows you and it does take the weight off the hospital system.’ He said support workers also provide comfort and having a friendly person around helps the healing process.
Jamie suggests GP practices should be funded to purchase appropriate equipment. Failing this, fully equipped health clinics for people with disability should be established.
‘I think it’s about access for everyone, having the right thing for all different types of people whether it’s a hoist or a bigger bed whatever.
‘It’s just a shame and it is … discrimination of people with a disability. They have a right like every other person to be able to access these facilities.’
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.