Thursday, October 19, 2017
FRENCHMAN Anael Bongrand said it was lucky he and his colleagues had brought French medicines – so he could read the labels and know what they were used for. Photo Sven Carlsson OB4002-02
Sven Carlsson
VISITING kiwifruit workers are having trouble accessing medical services in Opotiki.
When Frenchman Anael Bongrand played soccer with some other Kukumoa Lodge residents on Monday evening he hurt his foot and needed medical attention.
“I stepped on the small ball and managed to sprain my ankle,” he said.
After being told “no” and “definitely no” by Opotiki’s doctor’s surgeries, Mr Bongrand decided to wrap his foot up himself and take whatever medicines he and other friends could find.
Kukumoa Lodge owner Neal Berry said taking the young kiwifruit worker over to the Whakatane Hospital was “probably not worth it”.
He based this opinion partly on bad personal experiences and the experiences of a Czech Republic couple who had been long-term visitors at the lodge.
Mr Berry said Zuzana Kirschnerova and her partner had been charged $420 for treatments and the boyfriend had been misdiagnosed after waiting for four hours.
“Zuzana just told me they had to go back to the emergency department in Christchurch for a correct diagnosis and another $420,” he said.
Mr Berry said he was currently looking to find crutches on the internet for his laid-up customer.
“There are none I can get in Opotiki,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Bongrand said the receptionists at the Opotiki health centres had been helpful and gave good advice.
“They just did not have any doctors that could see me,” he said.
Having arrived in New Zealand on September 10, and spent one week in Opotiki, Mr Bongrand said the kiwifruit job he had just obtained was probably in jeopardy.
“I don’t know how long it will take before I can walk again.”
The visitor said he carried health insurance during the trip.
“It cost me about $400 for six months,” he said.
Riverlock operations manager Steven “Murdoch” Lambert said he had come across the same problem.
“I have told our workers that if they get seriously hurt, let me know and I will drive them to Whakatane,” he said.
“You just can’t get in here in Opotiki.”
Mr Lambert said the same problem applied to visiting workers with acute dental problems.
“We have to take them to Whakatane or Kawerau,” he said.
Opotiki Mayor John Forbes said he had to travel to Whakatane to see a dentist.
“It’s either that, or wait forever for an appointment,” he said.
“We could do with two more to serve our growing population, but how we get them I don’t know.”
Mr Forbes said there were a range of health services in town and he didn’t know what type of medical service was needed in the backpacker cases.
“But if it’s difficult for me to get to a dentist or health specialist, then it must be all but impossible for visiting kiwifruit workers who don’t have a car or transport.”
Mr Berry said Opotiki and the kiwifruit industry needed to think about how they were caring for the visiting workers.
“Last year I had three guys who got stung by bees – what if one of them was allergic,” he said.
“There are no buses and no taxi here – and there’s no after-hours’ doctor.”
Some free care available
BAY of Plenty District Health Board spokeswoman Barbara King said that even if a person isn’t eligible for free public healthcare some services are still free.
“ACC pays for all treatment required for injuries caused by an accident, such as motor vehicle accidents or even injuries that are caused by another person or even if you do something foolish and hurt yourself,” she said.
“If you have a notifiable infectious condition such as TB, AIDS, mumps or measles you will receive free healthcare.”
Wellchild services such as immunisation, hearing and vision checks were free for non-eligible children. Ms King said non-eligible people should dial 111 and ask for an ambulance if they had a health emergency.
“You will be seen in the emergency department at the hospital and if necessary you will be admitted to hospital,” she said.
Those who were admitted to hospital would receive a bill after they are discharged.
“You will not be turned away if you need urgent medical attention.”
When it was not an emergency, it was cheaper to see a GP than going to the hospital.
“At the emergency department there will be a minimum cost of $425.50 that you will be expected to pay,” Ms King said.
“If you are admitted to hospital, it’s expensive and can vary between $816.50 to $3469.55 per day, just for the hospital bed.”
Additional services such as surgery, tests and X-rays would be charged on top of that.
“If you come to the hospital as an outpatient your first visit to a specialist is $427.80.”
Ms King said it was important non-eligible persons had comprehensive health insurance to cover the cost of your treatment here.
“We have had hospitalisations where the accounts have been over $200,000,” she said.