For more local news and photos grab a copy of the Bay Post or Moruya Examiner.

Matthew Finn, 37, went to the Emergency Department with a suspected dislocated shoulder shortly after 6pm.

The on-duty doctor confirmed the injury was a “grade three or above AC joint dislocation” and told Mr Finn he would require surgery.

“But instead of referring me to a surgeon, I was given a GP reference and a pack of painkillers and sent home,” Mr Finn said.

This was despite the fact an orthopaedic surgeon was scheduled to visit Batemans Bay Hospital the following day.

According to Rachel Finn, her husband’s condition went from bad to worse overnight.

“He was shaking from the pain,” she said. “I honestly think his body just went into shock.”

The couple tried to get an appointment with their doctor the following day but were told the earliest appointment was in two weeks.

“We rang everywhere,” Ms Finn said. “I rang every doctor in the book and no one could see us.”

In the end the couple travelled to Berry, where they were able to get an appointment with Ms Finn’s mother’s doctor.

“He confirmed that it was a dislocation and that I would quite likely need to have surgery, and then he gave me a referral to see a surgeon,” Mr Finn said.

Once home, Mr Finn again began the arduous task of phoning around to get an appointment with a surgeon.

“I was on the phone for close to four hours on Wednesday,” he said.

“I rang everywhere - Nowra, Canberra, Wollongong, Bega and Sydney. I couldn’t get an appointment anywhere, until February 21 in Nowra.”

Ms Finn is furious that her husband has been left to suffer in pain.

“I feel this is just far too long,” she said.

“He is also a carpenter, we need to know what is happening in regards to the surgery so that we can make plans for the future.”

The couple feel the hospital should have referred Mr Finn for surgery on Monday night.