Jean Haynes, who also suffers from multiple health issues, is 14 weeks into a complex pregnancy which requires regular specialist monitoring in Bendigo.
“I am scheduled for fortnightly visits with my obstetrician, and potentially weekly trips to Bendigo to see him and my endocrinologist and nephrologist,” she said.
“At the end of August, I am scheduled for a specialist ultrasound in Melbourne, due to my present health conditions and the fact one of my older children had a significant fetal abnormality.”
To complicate matters, her youngest son has an emergency paediatric appointment on Tuesday, July 28, after suffering a serious reaction to a peanut allergy.
“Every day we live in fear that he will have an even worse reaction and without a management plan yet in place, it is not an option for us to reschedule this appointment,” she said.
However, according to NSW Health, Jean will have to self-isolate for 14 days every time she accesses medical care in Bendigo, as it is outside the "border bubble".
“Given the regularity of my scheduled appointments, this means I will be in isolation until the border restrictions are lifted or my baby arrives some time after Christmas,” she said.
“As the mum with five kids, this level of isolation is beyond our capacity. More than this, this imposition on our family will have negligible benefit in helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
Jean said the only way she could avoid some isolation was to restrict the frequency of her medical appointments, which could have a significant impact on her and her unborn baby’s health and welfare.
“It’s just wrong,” she said.
Jean said the advice conflicted with that provided by NSW Cross Border Commissioner James McTavish, who told ABC Radio on Wednesday, July 22, there were provisions allowing people to go into Victoria for care without the need to self-isolate on their return home, unless they had been in declared COVID hotspots.
“I am deeply concerned about the mixed messaging, contradictions and confusion that has been caused by the way in which these restrictions have been communicated to the general public. It has caused substantial stress for the most vulnerable in the community, at a time when we are already stressed about the risks that COVID-19 poses to our health,” she said.
Jean emailed her concerns to the NSW Health COVID-19 Ministerial team asking them to grant an exemption.
An emailed reply suggested Jean “speak with your obstetrician about options to having face to face appointments, such as telehealth … and discuss ultrasound alternatives with your specialist”.The closest NSW services for Jean are Albury or Wagga, which are two-and-a-half three-and-a-half hours away respectively.NSW Member for Murray Helen Dalton said this was the most horrific aspect of the border closure.
“The NSW Government told us earlier this week they would try and sort this out, but as of Friday, July 24, women are still being asked to self-isolate for 14 days, which is impossible,” she said on Friday.
“People are now missing urgent medical appointments because they the self-isolation rules are impossible to follow.
“Meanwhile, government ministers and their staffers travel all over the state for photo opportunities, creating far greater risks of spreading this disease.”
Ms Dalton has drafted a joint letter with other MPs to take to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, asking him to intervene.
“This is a serious breach of human rights. I’ll take this to the Australian Human Rights Commissioner and Governor General if needed,” she said.
A NSW Department of Customer Service spokesperson said residents had the ability to choose any medical service, however under the NSW border restrictions, should they choose to seek medical attention in Victoria outside the cross-border zone they would be required to self-isolate upon their return.
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