By NOEL MURPHY
BRENDA Hoad’s days of feeling like a “sideshow freak” are over after a Belmont surgeon repaired a gaping face wound that Barwon Health refused to fix because of a payment stand-off.
The Hamlyn Heights 56-year-old suffered headaches, seeping fluid and blood running over her face for five months after as she languished without a reconstruction of her nose following Barwon Health cancer surgery.
But Belmont ‘s Dr Anthony Dixon carried out the work free of charge under local anaesthetic in a 20-minute operation this week.
“I can actually breathe properly through my nose again,” an elated Mrs Hoad told the Independent.
“The packing’s all gone, I can actually walk again – I’d been breathless from infection. I’m feeling a lot better and will probably feel even better when I get the last bandages off my face.”
Mrs Hoad said she was greatly relieved to overcome the problems from seeping fluid and blood in her eyes.
“It has all stopped. Dr Dixon was really good, he’s been very generous.
“It’s a little swollen right now but to be able to blow my nose again was, like ‘Yes!’.”
Barwon Health and Ms Hoad were at loggerheads over payment for her earlier surgery and an upfront fee for the reconstruction work on her nose.
Ms Hoad, a US citizen, is ineligible for Medicare. She owes Barwon Health about $6000 and refused an upfront charge of $3500 for the reconstruction work.
“But I went in to Dr Dixon on Monday to have a look and he did it on the spot – in about 20 minutes.”
Ms Hoad said she expected to have her stitches and bandages removed next week.
