A MELTON woman was left disgusted after her terminally ill mother was refused a prescription for pain medication on Easter Saturday.
Marie, who didn’t want her surname published, said she took her mother to Melton Health on the night of March 30 after she had run out of medication for pain associated with liver, lung and bone cancer.
She said her mother had been taking the medication since being diagnosed three months ago. “They turned her away,” Marie said.
“The nurse said it wasn’t important enough and that we couldn’t go there for a script. She refused to give mum the script. Mum was upset and anxious; I think it’s disgusting.”
Marie took her mother to another medical clinic in Melton, where she was given a script.
Djerriwarrh Health Services operates Melton Health. DHS chief executive Bruce Marshall said he was not aware of the particular incident, but it was not uncommon for prescriptions to be refused. “The urgent care service is not an alternative to a general practitioner medical practice,” Mr Marshall said.
“Urgent care or emergency services are there for urgent but not life-threatening situations.
“People requiring to see their GP or a medical practice need to make an appointment or contact their GP rooms and make an appointment.
“Melton Health is not a medical practice where GPs operate from.”
