Carer waited 2 years for foot surgery, finally seen after Facebook post went
Steve Murray waited nearly two years for hammer toe surgery until a viral Facebook post got him treated.
Steve Murray, 67, cared for his terminally ill wife while living with severe hammer toe. The condition twisted his toes sideways and caused unbearable pain.
For two years he waited for a specialist appointment and got nothing but automated text messages. Steve Murray wrote to Tasmania's health minister and was told she couldn't help.
Desperate, he posted a photo of his swollen foot to Facebook. A doctor at the North West Regional Hospital saw it, called him, and got him an appointment.
But even now, surgery could take another four months. The wait times paint a bleak picture across Tasmania: Category 3 ortho patients at NWRH wait 508 days.
Non-urgent cases at Launceston General Hospital face waits over four years. Medical experts say long delays cause real harm.
They worsen diabetes risk, mobility and independence while patients sit on treatable conditions.
- 67
- Steve Murray's age
- nearly 2
- Years waited for specialist
- 508 days
- Category 3 ortho wait at NWRH
- over 4 years
- Non-urgent wait at Launceston General
Why it mattersLong waits for non-urgent surgery leave patients deteriorating and isolated, turning treatable conditions into chronic disabilities that damage their quality of life and health.
AustraliaTasmanian public hospital patients face some of Australia's longest waits for non-emergency surgery, forcing those who can afford it toward private care and leaving others in pain.
Corroborated bytheadvocate.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
Open this story in InSnip →
