The woman, who declined to be identified, was sent to the hospital on Monday, January 25, after a doctor shortage meant there were no emergency appointments available at the Kangaroo Island Medical Clinic.

She was suffering a serious episode in her ongoing illness.

The woman’s father has subsequently written to the Kangaroo Island Health Service, which is responsible for the hospital, after the traumatised woman received “deplorable” service from the visiting locum, who told her she did not have the pre-diagnosed condition for which she attended and instead diagnosed a minor ailment.

“She came back to us a complete mess, feeling more fragile than before she went. She was devastated by the lack of support and intensely angered at the trite lecture on a condition which she has endured for years, with an intimate knowledge of its symptoms and painful effects,” the letter said.

Member for Finniss Michael Pengilly has called for an urgent end to the crisis after the potentially disastrous situation of this patient and the absence of obstetric services for a week.

Doctors at the clinic have been embroiled in a decade-long battle with health officials over the absence of a contract and disputes about payment for on-call services at the hospital.

Five doctors and the clinic’s manager were recently called to give evidence at a hearing by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission over their threat to boycott services to the hospital. They were reported for anti-competitive practices, or collusion. Their absence to be at the hearings has compounded the recent medical services crisis on the island.

Mr Pengilly said the Health Department told him late last year they would have a solution in place “but now they do not even return phone calls in a blatant display of arrogance”.

He said the ACCC investigation was “a nonsense” and had added to the anger and stress felt by the doctors.

“It is all a total mess and we cannot afford to have doctors considering leaving the island,” Mr Pengilly said.

Dr Tim Leeuwenburg said Kangaroo Island doctors were anxiously awaiting a satisfactory contract from Country Health SA and a satisfactory resolution to the stalemate.

“The doctors and the hospital simply want continuity and a seamless bridge between the clinic and the hospital so that patients can have their own doctors treating them,” Dr Leeuwenburg said.