St Vincent’s Private Community Hospital Griffith has announced on Wednesday it will now be able to admit all privately insured patients across all Australian health funds.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Their announcement follows outrage over news Griffith cancer sufferer Rick Schwarzer was denied admission, despite having paid for top coverage under the Australian Health Services Alliance fund all his working life.
Mr Schwarzer’s wife wrote a letter to NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard and many other senior figures, highlighting the “injustice” of what was happening to her husband.
The letter, circulated across social media, appealed for immediate change in the management of both Griffith Base Hospital and St Vincent’s.
“How many deaths will it take before the urgency sinks into the heads of those responsible for the needs of Griffith and district population?” the letter asked.
The Area News sent the letter to St Vincent’s management for a response.
In reply, Graham Clarke, St Vincent’s Griffith CEO, said, “I am happy to now report that St Vincent’s and Australian Health Services Alliance (ASHA) now have an agreement in place which will provide access for the people of Griffith to their community hospital”.
The letter also said Rick Schwarzer would now be fully covered in the same way as all other major health fund members.
On Wednesday, the hospital posted a message on its Facebook page stating it is “now be able to admit all privately insured patients”.
****
Original letter from Mrs Thel Schwarzer
Dr Dr Jaya
Is there any wonder the recent rally to save the Griffith Base Hospital was so well supported and received by the community of Griffith?!
My appeal is for immediate change in the management of both our Base Hospital and St Vincent's Private Hospital, neither of which are meeting the needs of our local community.
I ask the question, "How many deaths will it take before the urgency sinks into the heads of those responsible for the needs of the Griffith and district population?"
When a man who has dedicated 55 years of giving to the local community has been subjected to treatment you would expect of a third-world country rather than the treatment and respect he deserves at a time of need and ill health, what are we coming to?
To make matters worse, he has paid top medical insurance all his working life so that he and his family could receive the best medical attention when the need arises.
What has been discovered in his time of need, is a Private Hospital which will not accept all medical insurance companies, even those well known and well regarded for many years.
Despite holding a card which reads "TOP HOSPITAL - TOP EXTRAS" their services cannot be accessed.
Can I suggest to St Vincent Hospital Management they should remember the many local people and organisations who have worked tirelessly to raise a great amount of money to make sure it was possible to have this hospital in our town.
The door has now been closed in our faces.
The lack of service and attention, the degrading level of care, the total injustice such as we received during our recent hospital stays, should not take place in our country or our town.
I am asking the population of Griffith and the district to keep up the fight for better health services.
I thank the organisers who began this battle and I ask you all not to give up until we are receiving the services we deserve.
Thel Schwarzer
Griffith
Response from St Vincent’s
Dear Sir
Re: Mrs Thelma Schwarzer
I am happy to report that St Vincent's and Australian Health Services Alliance (AHSA) now have an agreement in place which will provide access for the people of Griffith to their Community Hospital.
All AHSA members, including Mrs Schwarzer, will now be fully covered in the same way as all the other major health fund members are for their Hospital stay.
We are very proud of the fact that we are a community Hospital and are profoundly grateful to the Griffith community for their support in bringing the Hospital to life.
St Vincent's is delighted that AHSA health fund members can now take their place among all our other patients who have been benefitting from the growing health services we are providing to the Riverina community.
Graham Clarke
CEO/Director of Nursing
St Vincents Private Community Hospital Griffith