For NSW residents who live just over the ACT border in rural communities, the closest medical facilities are often located in Canberra. However, many residents are now finding themselves turned away at the border, forced to find assistance elsewhere.
The issue, raised from one concerned person in Googong, NSW, whose husband was turned away from the Calvery Hospital due to their location, took to Facebook in search of similar scenarios. The response they received was huge.
“[My] husband had major spine surgery for a tumour and needs to move to a rehab hospital,” the initial post wrote.
“We’re trying to go to Bruce but they won’t accept a transfer.
“The next closest hospital is Goulburn which is not feasible for us.”
Within the 2024-2025 period, it was estimated that the ACT Government received $121.8 million from the NSW Government to cater to the number of NSW residents who were receiving care and treatment. They received $24.5 million back from the ACT Government for residents who were receiving care in NSW.
Although talks of firming up border locations were discussed, it has never been formerly recognised by ACT health professionals of anyone within the NSW being directly refused care due to their location.
Many have disagreed publicly about this.
“I was on the public list to get a knee op for about 18 months, then received a letter telling me I was taken off the list as I am a NSW resident,” one poster wrote.
“[I] had to start the process all over again, went to Goulburn for specialist appt & MRI, having surgery in Bowral sometime in the next 6 months (hopefully).”
Another wrote, “If an ACT resident is in need we get triaged and asked to go and use our ‘own state public health funded hospital’.”
For many residents living in Yass, Murrumbateman, Gundaroo and Sutton, accessing resources within Canberra is not only closer to family, but allows for ease of travel.
“As an 83 year old I find getting to Goulburn very difficult and had pleaded eith (sic) the ED at Qbn not to send [my daughter to hospital],” wrote one person.
“Why can’t we use the Canberra hospital system especially when we have paid for private health cover?”
Discussions have now ensued from ACT Health Minister, Rachel Stephen-Smith about whether NSW patients are indeed being turned away from hospitals, and says her office is investigated the circumstances surrounding the original poster’s situation.
As it stands, NSW patients make up approximately 25 percent of patient load within ACT medical services, who are required to be treated under the Medicare and National Health Reform Agreement rules.
While there are some exceptions due to being funded purely by the ACT government for ACT residents, Ms Stephen-Smith says this shouldn’t be the case for anything funded under Medicare rules.
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