Man waiting on life-saving operation, but can't be treated in Tasmania

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NewsMan waiting on life-saving operation, but can't be treated in TasmaniaBy Hamish GealeUpdated October 12 2024 - 3:42pm, first published October 11 2024 - 5:30amBy Hamish GealeUpdated

October 12 2024 - 3:42pm, first published October 11 2024 - 5:30amFacebookTwitterWhatsappEmailCopy A Mowbray man who needs urgent surgery is still waiting for a referral.

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50% off EOFY SaleAll articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperCrosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll other regional websites in your areaContinue Barry Smith has been off

work since the start of 2024 when he was involved in a truck rollover.

He was diagnosed with a leaking aorta soon after and has seen his weight plummet from 87 kilograms to 50 kilograms.

Mr Smith has an appointment next week that he hopes will see him referred to the Prince Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, but is disappointed it took six months to get the appointment.

Mowbray's Barry Smith says he has been waiting months for an urgent operation. Pictures by Hamish Geale, Paul Scambler "It's life-threatening," Mr Smith said of his condition.

"Without the operation, I'll die; without that referral, I can't get in to have the operation.

"I've tried everywhere and I've tried to push them as hard as I can - there must be somewhere I can get a referral."

Mr Smith cannot have the surgery in Tasmania in the near future because the state's sole vascular surgeon is on long service leave.

He said the state needed more than one vascular surgeon on its books.

"For this day and age in Tasmania when you can't even find a doctor anywhere in Tasmania to give you a referral for an operation that's needed ASAP ... [it's not good enough]," he said.

"Secondly that we haven't got the medical staff here to do it, we've only got one professional surgeon who's on long service, we've got no-one to cover us.

"It's a bit rough - what happens if we've got a major accident and that surgeon's got the flu or he's not well or he can't make it, where's our backup?"

Launceston General Hospital. File picture A Department of Health spokesperson said there were 109 people on the elective surgery waiting list for vascular and cardiovascular surgery.

The spokesperson said this was the lowest number since May.

"In 2023-24 there were 305 admissions for this specialty - an increase of 10.9 percent from 275 in 2022-23," they said.

"These surgeries are continuing to be performed, with 104 procedures performed in the past four months, including 35 last month.

"The Department of Health works hard to minimise wait times and prioritise the most urgent appointments and procedures. We empathise with patients who experience longer wait times, and our

staff to continue to work with patients to ensure they receive the care they need as soon as possible."

ShareFacebookTwitterWhatsappEmailCopyHamish GealeJournalistHamish Geale is a senior reporter at The Examiner.Got good news? Email: [email protected] Geale is a senior reporter at

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