Kiama MP Gareth Ward aired the Illawarra residents’ complaints against Dr Jeremy Reader before Parliament this week and is leading a charge to ensure all skin cancer clinics are properly regulated.

Mr Ward told the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday the residents had contacted him after he raised the plight of Shellharbour woman Janelle Trigg in Parliament in June.

The Mercury subsequently shared the story of Ms Trigg, who underwent two operations and spent thousands to fix up a scar left after treatment for a white spot of skin on her nose by Dr Reader at the Crown Central clinic in 2011.

‘‘More of Dr Reader’s patients have come forward to tell their story of a man who is manifestly unqualified to undertake certain surgery,’’ Mr Ward said.

‘‘The results are disastrous. I have seen those results firsthand.

‘‘...In one particular instance, a patient who was treated by Dr Reader suffered severe bleeding and was told by ambulance officers that he was lucky to be alive.’’

Mr Ward outlined the experiences of five of Dr Reader’s patients.

He spoke of Karen Wilmott who had to undergo plastic surgery after she was left with a large scar on her upper lip due to treatment for a 1.2mm-deep basal cell carcinoma in 2011.

Two weeks after the procedure, Ms Wilmott ended up at Shellharbour Hospital’s emergency department with a serious infection.

Another of Dr Reader’s patients, Collene Bakewell-Hill, was taken to Wollongong Hospital in 2012 suffering ‘‘limited airway capacity, swelling of the eyes and face and closure of her left eye’’.

‘‘As a result of Dr Reader’s actions Collene had a deviated septum, scarring and limited structural support in the nose; she had to wear a nasal strip to assist with breathing and eating,’’ Mr Ward said.

Mr Ward also shared John Fredericks’ story, who was treated for a squamous cell carcinoma on his face by Dr Reader on January 30 this year.

‘‘The operation ended with 10 stitches, a prominent scar on John’s face and trauma caused by an insufficient amount of anaesthetic,’’ he said.

‘‘In John’s own words, ‘Each slice with the scalpel could be felt’.’’ 

Mr Ward said Mr Fredericks claimed in response to his subsequent concerns about the scarring, Dr Reader told him: ‘In some cultures scarring is a mark of beauty’.’’

Rod Bassford’s experience with Dr Reader was also relaid in Parliament.

Mr Bassford underwent surgery for a squamous cell carcinoma on his forehead in February.

‘‘[Eight days later] the patient removed the dressing to find the wound was bloody and a ‘slimy mess’,’’ Mr Ward said.

‘‘In some areas the two skin flaps were not joined and there appeared to be only one suture holding the flaps together.’’

Mr Ward brought up the cases this week while speaking in favour of a new bill to regulate health practitioners put up by NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner earlier this month.

‘‘It is my view that Dr Reader’s treatments are evidence of serious malpractice and his licence to practise as a doctor should be revoked,’’ he said.

‘‘The government must examine the law in the area of skin cancer clinics. Dr Reader is a general practitioner, not a skin cancer specialist.’’

The Illawarra Mercury has contacted the Wollongong Skin Cancer Clinic and Dr Reader for comment but has received no response.