Last week she was left on waiting list in agony…Now jaw has already been under the knife

Andrew Mathieson
AN AGONISING nine-month wait for surgery ended this week for a Geelong woman who languished on Barwon Health’s waiting list with a dislocated jaw.
Raelene Williams went under the knife on Wednesday after Barwon Health brought her appointment at Geelong Hospital forward four weeks after cancelling two earlier appointments.
The turnabout has prompted accusations State Government ordered Barwon Health to jump Ms Williams ahead in the queue to avoid bad publicity.
Ms Williams said she was informed Barwon Health had found a place for her surgery soon after last week’s Independent reported how the untreated injury had left her dependent on prescription morphine and eating through a straw.
Ms Williams said Barwon Health had given her an explanation that “the register had been contacted and was told they had to bring my dates forward”.
“It’s amazing what the hospital could achieve when they want to,” she said.
Ms Williams said hospital staff were unsympathetic when they told her that injuries from several street assaults had been given priority.
“I don’t think they (the staff) have been as frustrated as what I have.”
Ms Williams first reported the injury to Geelong Hospital’s emergency department in May.
She waited three months before she was told the hospital had placed her on the waiting list.
As a category-two patient she was supposed to have been admitted to surgery within 90 days but ended up waiting three times longer.
A Barwon Health spokesperson said Ms Williams was offered earlier surgery because a vacancy had become available.
“We endeavour to perform surgery as soon as possible for patients. Sometimes opportunities arise that enable us to bring surgery forward,” the spokesperson said.
“Patients are always contacted if this is the case.”
But state opposition health spokesperson David Davis believed public embarrassment had forced State Government to intervene and hurry Ms Williams onto the operating table.
“There’s no doubt that Barwon Health is an increasingly politicised organisation that responds to tough calls from Minister (Daniel) Andrews’ office,” he said.
“It’s an organisation in crisis and Raelene’s story is one of many category-two patients with a very, very long wait.”
Mr Davis believed a wait of nine months for jaw surgery was just “the tip of the iceberg” for waiting list horror stories at Geelong Hospital.
A spokesperson for the Minister for Health denied media coverage had forced a Government directive to speed up Ms Williams’ surgery.
“The Government doesn’t make decisions on patients treatment,” the spokesperson said.
“All I can say is the Government has complete faith in the medical staff at Barwon Health.”