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A BATHURST mother is at loggerheads with the local health service over vital treatment for her two-year-old son.
Darcy Nunan has been sick from the day he was born and his illness has meant he has been slow to do things other kids take for granted
One of the things that was making a huge difference in his life was working with a paediatric physiotherapist at Bathurst Hospital.
However, that position has remained vacant since she left in December last year and Darcy’s mother, Sonia Nunan, fears it has been scrapped altogether – a claim rejected by the Western NSW Local Health District.
Concerned that no-one had been recruited, Ms Nunan met with the hospital’s general manager David Wright and the head of allied services Richard Cheney.
“They promised the world and delivered nothing,” she said.
After nothing came of recruitment advertising she was offered the services of an adult-trained physiotherapist.
She declined because she felt Darcy needed a physio who was specifically trained in working with babies and children.
“We chose to take him to Lithgow Hospital, which is in another health district, and we have had no problems whatsoever. They have been amazing,” Ms Nunan said.
“However, I had always hoped a paediatric physiotherapist would be recruited to Bathurst.”
That hoped died when she was informed a week after budget cuts were announced at Bathurst Hospital that any such vacant positions would no longer be filled.
Ms Nunan said physiotherapy is a very important part of Darcy’s development because he has been sick for so long he hasn’t been able to do any of the things other kids his age can. Although he turns two this month, he only weighs 10 kilos.
But in a statement to the Western Advocate, the Western NSW LHD said it was still in the process of recruiting a paediatric physiotherapist for Bathurst.
The statement said the LHD was aware of the Nunans’ situation and had been working with Ms Nunan to find a solution.
“When the vacant paediatric physiotherapist position could not be filled at Bathurst Health Service, the services of a senior clinical physiotherapist were offered,” the statement said.
“Throughout the Western NSW LHD all physiotherapists who treat children are offered supervision and clinical support from a variety of networks. These include senior clinical physiotherapists who specialise in paediatrics working within the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network and Western NSW LHD. These services were declined.
“The physiotherapy services needed to meet the child’s needs have been offered at Bathurst, however, to date these services have been refused with the patient’s family choosing to travel to Lithgow instead.
“Western NSW LHD is committed to ensuring appropriate therapy services are provided to paediatric physiotherapy patients as close to home as possible and that the service options available are discussed with clients and family members.”
Darcy has been admitted to Westmead Children’s Hospital three times in the last 12 months. He has been to countless clinics, including the Royal Far West Clinic in Manly.
By the time he was 18 months old he had experienced nine bouts of pneumonia. Since then there have been a further three admissions, one for pneumonia.
“This isn’t just about Darcy. A lot of little kids in this town need help,” Ms Nunan said.
Ms Nunan and her family moved to Bathurst five-and-a-half years ago.
“They call this a city. It makes me so mad,” she said. “You hear Evocities ads saying ‘Come to Bathurst’ – what a joke.”