A MOUNT Gambier man’s blood cancer treatment has been thrown into limbo with new restrictions preventing him from travelling to Warrnambool for the critical therapy.
John Pollock and wife Elaine usually travel to the Warrnambool Cancer Centre every 21 days for a series of 14 chemotherapy injections administered over a nine-day period.
However, with harsher border restrictions being enforced from Wednesday, a health exemption for the pair has since been refused.
Instead, the Chief Medical Officer advised Mr Pollock he would need to seek future treatments in Mount Gambier.
“It took a week to get a response and it was like they had not read the email because we advised them that no treatment is available locally,” Ms Pollock said.
“We are probably just one of many people that have found themselves in this predicament.”
Ms Pollock praised Warrnambool haematologist Dr John Hounsell who personally wrote to SA Health about the situation.
“When I got the news about the lack of exemption, I called him and he has already got on the front foot with it and shown a genuine care for our situation – he is a phenomenal person,” she said.
“He is looking to have a haematology visiting service at the least made available in Mount Gambier while restrictions are in place.”
A Limestone Coast Local Health Network spokesperson said the service was working with patients to try and make the treatment available in Mount Gambier.
“We are working closely with patients requiring haematology services to accommodate treatment at Mount Gambier Hospital where clinically appropriate,” a spokesperson said.
“While some patients may need to travel to Adelaide for treatment during this period, we will continue to monitor the situation in Victoria closely and encourage all patients to contact us with any concerns.”
If no service is made available in Mount Gambier, the Pollocks will make arrangements to travel to Adelaide and see a different specialist.
“If we can get these services, even if it is only temporary, it will relieve a lot of stress,” she said.
“We have a lot of faith in our specialist and have built that rapport, so to have to attend a new cancer centre five hours away would only add to the stress.”
The pair are currently in isolation until Friday after recently returning from Warrnambool following John’s latest round of treatment.
Ms Pollock said the looming presence of the COVID-19 virus had only added to the stressful environment.
“We are both vulnerable people and we absolutely support what the government is doing – we feel a lot safer here than in Victoria,” she said.
“We are very mindful of it though, we do not go out and even when we are at home we follow all the rules and guidelines.”
