Arabic version: إزالة مرضى في كانبيرا من قوائم انتظار الاختصاصيين

According to ABC News, some patients seeking specialist care through Canberra Health Services have learned by letter that they have been removed from outpatient waitlists after waiting for years.

Liz Allen said her daughter was referred to the paediatric allergy clinic in January 2024 following allergic reactions, including an anaphylactic response while peeling prawns for a Christmas meal. In mid-October, Ms Allen said she received a letter saying her daughter’s referral had been closed because the condition no longer met requirements for a specialist appointment.

The letter said more than 65,000 people were on outpatient waiting lists and that some patients faced waits of more than six years for the allergy centre. It said clinic criteria had been reviewed and updated by clinicians. Ms Allen said she had received no other communication from Canberra Health Services before the letter and was concerned about not knowing the source of her daughter’s allergies.

Canberra Health Services chief operating officer Alison Derritt said the service was systematically reviewing more than 40 outpatient waitlists, service by service. She said the paediatric allergy service prioritised people under 16 with severe and complex food allergies, primarily with a history of anaphylaxis. Patients who believe their circumstances or information have not been fully considered can discuss the matter with the service, she said.

ACT Opposition Leader Mark Parton criticised the process and said he would move a motion in the ACT Legislative Assembly calling on the government to honour the original waiting lists. He said the government should walk back the removal of patients from lists.