A Victorian government minister has apologised, after coming under fire for suggesting a cancer patient who felt they needed to travel interstate to get timely care "roll with the punches".
Kylie Hennessy said she had to travel to Adelaide for a scan prior to surgery on a brain tumour due to multiple functional MRI machines being out of action in major Victorian hospitals.
The 50-year-old mother of two teenagers was diagnosed with cancer in August, and required a thorough scan — known as a functional MRI — to help guide her impending surgery.
After Ms Hennessy shared her experience with the media, Education Minister Natalie Hutchins was asked about it this morning.
She said from time to time, equipment was not available.
"I do know from my experience in the health system that sometimes you have to just roll with the punches of what's going on," Ms Hutchins said.
Ms Hennessy said the comments were inexcusable.
"I can't believe that anyone could even think about saying something like that," she said.
Later, Ms Hutchins addressed the backlash on Twitter and recounted her family's own experience with cancer, which led to her husband's death.
"Having been through the pain and uncertainty of fighting cancer with my late husband Steve, I know how distressing and anxious this time is for the Hennessy family," she said.
"I understand this may have caused some distress and I am sorry that this has happened."
She said her earlier comment was, "a reflection of my personal experience of nursing my late husband through cancer and treatment".
Hospital CEO apologises for ordeal
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said a breakdown in communication meant Ms Hennessy was not made aware there were other machines available in the state, after machines at The Alfred and Royal Melbourne Hospital were not working.
The state government told the ABC The Alfred had offered to cover the expenses of the couple's Adelaide trip.
Ms Thomas said she wanted to acknowledge "the really stressful set of circumstances that Ms Hennessy has found herself in".
"I want to acknowledge what a difficult time this has been for her," she said.
She said there were four functional MRI machines in the state, with two fully functioning at the moment.
The health minister said she had spoken to fellow minister, Ms Hutchins, about her comments.
"She certainly did not mean to cause any offence whatsoever," she said
"Natalie was reflecting on her own experience and there was no intention whatsoever to disparage Ms Hennessy in any way, shape or form."
Royal Melbourne Hospital CEO Christine Kirkpatrick told 3AW this morning functional MRIs were "highly, highly specialised" procedures.
She offered her apologies to Ms Hennessy and her family.
"Clearly this has been quite significant, the inconvenience," she said.
Professor Kirkpatrick said only about five of the procedures were done at the hospital each year.
Opposition labels comments 'uncaring and shocking'
Ms Hennessy's husband, Jason, who organised to drive his wife to Adelaide and back after they were told there would be a long wait for a functional MRI scan in Melbourne, said the comments left him "disgusted".
"Nothing shocks me anymore about this government," he said.
"Their lack of empathy for the citizens of this state is mind-boggling."
Mr Hennessy said he was "gutted" when he realised the couple would need to travel interstate to get treatment.
"I just think it's disgusting that our health system has been run down to such a state that we have to jump in a car and drive a 1600-kilometres round trip," he said.
"We're not talking a broken arm here or anything like that, this is life-saving surgery that she requires.
"We're in 2022, we're in Australia … we should have a proper functioning and funded health system."
The Victorian opposition said it was insulting for Ms Hutchins to tell a cancer patient forced to travel interstate for brain scans to "roll with the punches".
Shadow Health Minister Georgie Crozier described the comments as "uncaring and shocking".
"These statements highlight the dismissive and insulting approach of this government towards Victorians in need of vital health treatment," she said.
