Hi

My name is Julie Brodie, I am 48yrs old & I live in Naracoorte SA. I am also physically disabled & can only mobile in a wheelchair.

I am well past due the age of having a mammogram & have put it off over the years because I have been told many times that I wouldn’t be able to fit into the visiting breast screening van that visits our town & I prefer to avoid the embarrassment of finding these things out at point of entry.

Monday June 3, I rang Mt Gambier Hospital Benson Radiology Dept. to book a mammogram explaining that I am wheelchaired & unable to fit in the visiting van, I was told that I had to get a referral from my Dr, which I did.

Wednesday June 5, I have my referral, so at about 3.10 I rang Bensons Radiology Dept at Mt Gambier Hospital to book the mammogram again explaining that Im in a wheelchair & cant get into the van hence booking a screening at the dept. So the lady at the other end of the phone booked me in on June 21 at 2.30 & then told me that I had to have $177 to pay on the day that isn’t covered by medicare.

I would have no problem paying this gap, IF it applied to every woman that CAN walk into the van, but it doesn’t, all breast screenings doesn’t thru the breast screening van are totally free of charge to everyone that is fortunate enough to have the privilege of 2 good legs!

I was horrified & stated to the lady that this is totally unfair as I cant get into the van for a screening, she told me to go back to my Dr & get him to write another request on the form that would allow for me to have a free screening. Not only does my Dr have better things to do than to research what extra he has to put on this form to get the screening free, why should I have to endure extra investigations to fall into some category to receive the screening?

I am extremely upset about this! I have been made to feel that because Im in a wheelchair, I don’t deserve to find out if I have breast cancer like any other woman in this country, that Im not equal, that somehow I am less worthy than others… & I am so angry!

This has really upset me to the point I feel like I should be going to the media, these people need to know that this is not ok, not on any level!

If you cant help me, please can you put me in touch with a good lawyer that can…. I don’t have a lot of money as Im on disability pension

Kind Regards
Julie
0417 832 675