The death of Kevin Cross has spotlighted the challenges faced by Western Australia’s public health system. His widow, Jenny Cross, expressed her frustrations with the series of delays and inadequate care that characterized her husband’s experience over a six-month period leading up to his death from pancreatic cancer on July 18, 2023.
Kevin’s health began to decline after Christmas 2022 when he started losing weight without explanation. Following a significant bleed in March 2023, Ms. Cross took him to the emergency department at Busselton Health Campus. The ordeal quickly escalated as Kevin was transferred from Busselton to Bunbury Regional Hospital, where he endured a lengthy wait of 12 hours in the emergency room, followed by another three hours ramped outside the facility.
During his stay, Kevin was shuffled between five different beds within a single day. Ms. Cross noted a troubling lack of communication between hospitals regarding a crucial blood transfusion her husband needed. Despite undergoing a CT scan, which yielded no visible problems, he was discharged with referrals for further testing, including colonoscopy and gastroscopy.
“I tried to book a PET scan he had a referral for but I never heard back,” Ms. Cross recounted. Over the next six months, her husband’s condition deteriorated as he frequently returned to the hospital, often receiving inadequate attention. She recalled hearing public announcements at Bunbury Hospital calling for staff to work overtime, highlighting the strain on hospital resources.
After exhausting their options within the public health system, the Cross family opted for private care, taking Kevin to St John of God Murdoch. It was there, after 15 days, that he received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer on July 3, 2023. Tragically, by that time, his organs were failing, and his heart was functioning at just 10 percent of its normal capacity.
Kevin’s death left a profound impact on his family, including his wife, three children, and eight grandchildren. Ms. Cross reflected on her husband’s character, stating, “Anyone you spoke to would say he was a really nice guy who would do anything to help you if he could.” She expressed uncertainty about whether an earlier diagnosis would have changed the outcome but believed Kevin could have been more comfortable and had more time with his family.
The systemic issues within the health care system were underscored by Kyle Hoath, president of the Australian Medical Association WA. He confirmed that the problems Ms. Cross experienced, such as ramping and bed shortages, are widespread across the public health sector. “It breaks my heart when we hear this happening, particularly in the regions,” Dr. Hoath said. He emphasized that the challenges stem from a lack of staff capacity and high burnout rates among health professionals, particularly in Bunbury.
In June, Bunbury Hospital accounted for a staggering 85 percent of total ramping incidents in the region. Dr. Hoath urged the state government to acknowledge these issues in order to seek effective solutions, stating, “Bunbury is just under intense pressure right now.”
“They just need to listen and understand it’s actual human beings they’re dealing with,”
Ms. Cross asserted, urging government officials to prioritize real lives over statistics. She called for a reallocation of funds, criticizing expenditures on projects like racetracks and entertainment venues.
The state government and the WA Country Health Service were contacted for comment regarding the systemic challenges highlighted by the Cross family. As it stands, Ms. Cross and her family are left to navigate their loss, advocating for a health system that recognizes the human impact of its failures.
