A 78-year-old Hobart woman with a broken foot, split lip, cut nose and a strained wrist was told she was too old to be admitted to Hobart Private Hospital.
The 78-year-old, who asked to remain anonymous, was in desperate need of medical care and her daughter-in-law, Sheree Morriss says she had been paying for private health cover for years but when she was rushed to HPH following a “nasty fall” she was turned away.
Ms Morriss says “[the staff] definitely said that one of the reasons was because she was over 65” and she has since lodged an official complaint in which she says “the ambulance pre-checked with the hospital prior to taking her and were told to bring her in only to be told during handover… that she was too old to be seen and she didn’t fit in with their parameters!”
The hospital has now begun an investigation into the case with a spokesperson saying “our hardworking and dedicated staff, doctors and nurses are committed to providing high-quality care to Hobart residents of all ages from newborns to the elderly [and just like] any hospital, some patients may require to be transferred from time to time to access specialised services and treatment.”