Source: The Melbourne Age [Letters to the Editor]

Act now to care for the horrifically injured
The plight of James Macready-Bryan and his family (29/4) brings into sharp relief the inadequacy of support available for catastrophically injured and permanently disabled people in Australia.

Each year about 60 Victorian families have to deal with the extraordinary emotional and physical turmoil of having a loved one permanently and seriously disabled through some fateful, random circumstance.

Without a long-term care scheme they are also confronted with the financial shock of meeting all costs for caring for their loved one for the rest of their lives.

One third of Victorians who are badly injured are not currently eligible for support through arrangements such as motor accident or workers compensation schemes. Surely they deserve at least as much support as children who are diagnosed with a severe and permanent disability.

A long-term care scheme should provide services including: support for accommodation appropriate to age, needs and circumstances; case management and co-ordination; attendant care; nursing and health care; personal care needs; domestic support and home maintenance; and counselling and social support.

The establishment of a long-term care scheme for catastrophically injured Australians has been on and off the agenda of the state, territory and federal finance ministers for a number of years. Actuarial studies have been undertaken, projected costs have been determined; it is now time for governments to act to rectify one of the most egregious deficiencies in our health and social service systems.
Dr Mark Yates, president, AMA Victoria