A 26-year-old woman from Newcastle was left in a medically-induced coma, sparking outrage from her mother over what she describes as “dangerous blame-shifting” between federal and state authorities. The incident highlights ongoing issues with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in public hospitals.
Government Responsibility Dispute
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) claims that once an NDIS participant is admitted to a hospital, the institution is responsible for their disability-related needs. However, NSW Health Minister Ryan Park stated that the NDIS is federally governed. “I was sorry to hear the reports of this patient and her family’s experience, which sound very distressing,” he said, acknowledging the growing concern over patient care.
A spokesperson for the NDIA mentioned that the woman and her family were supported by a dedicated hospital liaison officer, a claim refuted by the mother. She argues that neither she nor her daughter received direct contact from any NDIA officer, calling for immediate reforms to ensure continuous support for NDIS participants upon hospital admission.
Call for Investigation and Reform
The mother called for an investigation into her daughter’s case, after she was unnecessarily kept in a coma for 24 hours at John Hunter Hospital. This situation arose from the NDIS failing to approve essential disability support during her hospital stay. “The funding existed in her NDIS plan before hospital admission but was automatically cut the moment she was admitted,” she explained.
After a plea for help, her daughter received only six hours of support per day, insufficient for her complex needs. The woman, diagnosed with Chiari malformation, autism, and pathological demand avoidance, was admitted for diabetic ketoacidosis and later contracted influenza and pneumonia. ICU staff were unable to remove her from the coma without support workers, further complicating her medical situation.
The mother fears a recurrence of this ordeal, especially if hospitalisation occurs during weekends or extended periods when the NDIS is less accessible, such as over Christmas. She demands a reform of the existing NDIS and NSW Health agreement to prevent similar incidents.
Broader Systemic Issues
Mark Butler, federal minister for disability and the NDIS, and Jenny McAllister, who assists him, have diverted inquiries about a potential investigation back to the NDIS. Butler highlighted that a long-term funding agreement for public hospitals would be linked to cooperation around NDIS rule reform.
Ryan Park emphasized that the delay in NDIS placements causes significant congestion in state hospitals, affecting patient flow. A NSW Health spokesperson reported 290 patients were waiting beyond their discharge dates for NDIS services, a number the mother described as “staggering,” pointing to a system in desperate need of overhaul.
This troubling case underscores the urgent need for improved coordination between federal and state systems to prevent further tragedies and ensure NDIS participants receive the care they deserve.
