Spencer Connelly is on the cusp of a teenaged growth spurt but not every part of his body is growing.
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The skin grafts embedded into his neck after he survived a horrific arson attack need to be modified by laser surgery every couple of years to match his growing body.
Not getting this surgery would be like forcing the 11-year-old to wear jeans that fit him years ago.
But the Devonport boy has been waiting 14 months for a procedure only offered on one machine at the Royal Hobart Hospital.
His mother Alison McGee never thought the wait would be so long; when Spencer needed similar surgery in 2014 and 2016 he was waiting "a maximum of eight weeks".
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"Something has definitely changed now because here we are waiting 14 months," she said.
Mrs McGee said she was told one reason for the hold up was a wave of Baby Boomers needing surgery for Melanomas. But she suspects another reason: troubles at the Royal Hobart Hospital.
"We know that there's ramping going on all the time, they've cut funding to the hospital so there's not enough beds anymore, not enough staff and it's clearly having a flow-on effect everywhere," she said.
A Royal Hobart Hospital spokesperson said after discussions with the family and specialist clinical services, surgical lists were reviewed "to understand if there were any opportunities to have the procedure performed ahead of schedule".
"Regrettably, due to the numbers of category one cases requiring this specialist equipment, which is also used for cancer patients, priority is given to patients who are in most critical need," they said.
But while Spencer waits, he grows and grows and moving his neck becomes harder and harder.
Mrs McGee did not want to "make a fuss" but after 12 months of waiting she decided to contact Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff, former Minister for Health Michael Ferguson and his successor Sarah Courtney.
"Don't get me wrong, Sarah Courtney's office are trying, they are but all they're doing is asking questions as to why, what can we do," she said.
Ms Courtney said she "acknowledge and understand the concerns expressed by the family" and the government "always wants Tasmanians to receive the care they need sooner".
"Our skilled clinicians are the experts in triaging patients according to clinical need, not politicians, and senior clinicians at the Royal Hobart Hospital remain engaged with the family," she said.
"We are investing a record sum into our health system, opening more beds and employing more staff, but we know that there is still more to do."