Woman, Barwon Health in surgery ‘standoff’: Dispute on bill ‘left me like a freak’

BRENDA Hoad feels like a sideshow “freak” after Barwon Health pulled her off a post-cancer surgery waiting list over a payment standoff.
Mrs Hoad, 56, of Hamlyn Heights, said she suffered constant headaches, seeping fluid and blood running over her face as she waited for a third operation to complete reconstruction of her nose.
But she and Barwon Health are at loggerheads over payment for previous surgery and an upfront charge for the next round of work on her nose.
As a US citizen, Mrs Hoad is ineligible for Medicare. She owes around $6000 for surgery to date and had been told to pay $3500 in advance for her next operation or it won’t go ahead.
In the meantime, she said, the top of her head was numb, her glasses won’t sit on her nose and the way she held her head to see was affecting her neck and shoulders.
Initial surgery had left a gaping skin flap across the middle of her face.
Mrs Hoad said she felt “like a freak from a sideshow’’.
“I don’t like to go out anywhere if I don’t have to because it’s hard to drive. I still have seeping fluid and sometimes blood running into my eyes and down my face.”
Mrs Hoad wanted Barwon Health to extend a payment plan for the further operation she needed.
“I’ve screamed and hollered ‘Are you going to let me run around like a freak for the rest of my life?’,” she said.
Barwon Health said Mrs Hoad had rejected numerous approaches by phone, mail and email to discuss a payment plan.
“Mrs Hoad has refused our attempts to accommodate her situation,” a spokesperson said.
“While we sympathise with Mrs Hoad, we have provided her with payment options and payment extensions which she has not taken up.
“This leaves us with no choice but to cancel her surgery. All surgery needed to attend to her acute medical needs has been completed and the remaining surgery is aesthetic.”
Barwon Health said it provided care to patients with Medicare or private health coverage and to others willing to pay up front.
“Given current constraints on funding, Barwon Health is not in a position to divert care for eligible patients.”