A complaint has been lodged against the Adelaide-based chairman of Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN), Dr Andrew Saies, over his alleged conduct towards SE cancer patients.
Among claims against Dr Saies are allegations he comes from a position of privilege by suggesting financial issues confronting SE cancer patients travelling to Adelaide and unable to work for many weeks or months could easily be nullified if they took out income insurance.
The orthopaedic surgeon has rejected as “unfair” the complaints made by LC Radiation Therapy Working Group and says the LCLHN board “is committed to improving outcomes for all cancer patients in the Limestone Coast”.
The alleged conduct of Dr Saies is contained in a letter to Health Minister Chris Picton and copied to Premier Peter Malinauskas.
The letter is signed by Naracoorte’s Lachlan Haynes on behalf of Limestone Coast Radiation Therapy Working Group, of which he is chairman.
The letter highlights a meeting which took place on August 7 with Mr Picton and the working group.
“At this meeting as well as a previous meeting with the LCLHN Board held on Tuesday 30 July, Dr Andrew Saies was in attendance in his capacity as newly installed chair of the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN),” Mr Haynes said in the letter.
“I have been asked to convey to you concerns from the working party of the manner in which Dr Saies conducted himself to the group on both occasions.
“The group felt that Dr Saies was overly assertive and at times highly antithetical in his position to the point of severely lacking empathy and showing near callous disregard to the high emotional state of the group on the negative findings of the feasibility study.”
Mr Haynes said he could cite numerous examples, but two that created instant visceral reaction from the working group included discussion of all the emotional and financial burdens, “particularly for younger sufferers of employment age, unable to work for many weeks or months”.
“Dr Saies suggested that it could be easily nullified by those people having income insurance and implied that it was a case of simple financial prudency all should have,” Mr Haynes wrote.
“It was said from a position of privilege as many, of course, from the region simply do not have the financial literacy or (financial) means for such insurance.
“When the subject of travel and accommodation was raised and the burdens that created in terms of comfort, however importantly financial, Andrew casually quipped with having PATS (Patient Assistance Transport Scheme) and Greenhill Lodge.
“Now whilst both do assist and we are fortunate to have (them), they are not without significant out of pocket costs.
“Again, (it was) said with the benefit of privilege.”
Mr Haynes added that as Dr Saies was an Adelaide resident, travel and accommodation to the SE were either not necessary or paid for by the Government in his board role.
“The working party understands that there is a robust nature to our interactions with the board, particularly when the decision conveyed is not what we (the working group) were hoping for,” Mr Haynes said in the letter on behalf of those who felt offended.
“They (the working group) also appreciate that Dr Saies has to travel from Adelaide in representing the board.
“However, the group feel the nature of his interaction needs tempering and currently lacks respect and sensitivity to the many members who have suffered greatly or act as supporters to others battling cancer.
“The working party feel it necessary to alert you to our strongly held feelings about the conduct of Dr Saies in his capacity as chair of the Limestone Coast Local Health Network.
“As an organisation that seeks to represent the local region, we feel it necessary to have a positive working relationship with the board, and in particular the chair. Dr Saies’s conduct to date has given us the impression that there is no intention to work with us, only against us.
“In contrast, we wish to have a constructive relationship with the LCLHN for the benefit of cancer patients in the Limestone Coast.”
In response to a request for comment, Dr Saies issued a statement via the SA Health media unit.
“I acknowledge there is disappointment felt due to the findings of the independent feasibility study, heightened by the intense emotional, physical and financial burdens felt by cancer patients and their families,” Dr Saies said.
“I am concerned by the tone of the letter from the working party chairman and its unfair claims.
“The board is committed to improving outcomes for all cancer patients in the Limestone Coast and we will continue to work collaboratively with the working party for the benefit of our community.”
Mr Picton said Dr Saies had his full support.
“I was at the second of the mentioned meetings and Mr Haynes (the former SA Liberal Party Vice President) was not present.
“All participants at that meeting had a respectful and courteous discussion about this important issue.
“Dr Saies has my support and I note he was first appointed to the Limestone Coast Local Health Network Board by the former Liberal Government.
“The feasibility study was conducted independently of the Local Health Network – and the Action Group was involved in selecting the experts to do the study.
“There are a series of recommendations about improving cancer care in the Limestone Coast that I know Dr Saies and the LCLHN Governing Board look forward to making meaningful improvements for people in the Limestone Coast who have cancer.
“In 2021, after consideration of the sole tender for the project, the former Federal and State Liberal Governments rejected the proposal for radiation therapy service in Mount Gambier without even conducting a feasibility study.”
This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.