"Allied Health availability"

Some weeks ago, I injured my back and subsequently was diagnosed by the GP with a herniated disc in my back. I have been in excruciating pain and had a fall as a result at home and couldn't get up from the floor. 

The GP forwarded a referral to the local physiotherapy service at Moora hospital. A week passed with no contact, so I took it upon myself to contact the department.

I was told by the physio that appointments were booked on a priority basis, that the last physio had left and left them with all the patients and that they are only seeing patients one day a week. I was told that I would be contacted for an appointment and to date, have not been contacted. I communicated as best I could the level of pain and reduced ability I was experiencing.

The local private physio has closed and has been for some time, unsure of what that practice has in the future so that is not an option. I resorted to booking an appointment with a service some 1.5 hours drive away which I can't drive to due to the pain and discomfort of the long drive. In fact, just driving around town is causing significant pain and post-drive stiffness and difficulty at home. This physio has seen me by video conference but has informed me I need some hands-on physical therapy and that I needed to get to a Physio.

I believe the Moora service has been in a state of flux for many years now with physios coming and going, short contracts and the current physio only working two days a week and seeing patients on one day. It appears the ongoing instability in this service is continuing and likely to continue for some time.

I feel someone needs to take this seriously and something needs to be done to improve the physical therapy services in and around Moora. In my opinion, it's not good enough in a region with sports, children and aged clients needing support and treatment, that residents can't access post-injury physiotherapy.

It seems this is not even a service of last resort, in my opinion, it's a service of no resort because it's not worth trying to get treatment here.