"Lack of access to specialist services"

This has been added by a service provider on behalf of a client in the South West. Permission has been given by the client.

The client had stent(s) put in as a public patient but all of the associated follow-up appointments were charged privately. Their current account is approaching $1000.

The client said they were asked to pay up front on the day. The clients can't cover this and future costs.

I phoned the rooms to query the charge and was told this is a privately billing service.

This is another example of the inequality of the health services available to the people of the South West.

As you can see by this example the ITC costs per client in the South West are largely taken up by attending specialist services.