Dial 111

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 15, Issue 693, 1 July 1997, Page 4

Dial 111

As a regular visitor to the Waimarino area I have been rudely awakened by the fact that the

local neafth centre in Raetihi is unable to offer assistance in an emergency and trained nurses can only refer one onto an on-duty doctor. My two-year-old son became ill on Saturday night and was having breathing difficulties so I thought I would try and seek advice from the local health centre and she could only refer me on and that's all. I was horrified and got this lady to listen over the phone to my son's breathing but still she could offer no help ex-. cept to ring the on-duty doctor who lives 1 1 km away, while the local health centre being just around the corner. After trying for many minutes to get through to the doctor I decided to ring the centre back and, after being what I can only describe as being rude to the lady, I decided to ring 1 1 1 . The man who answered my call listened on the phone to my son's breathing and he told me my son needed urgent help. The ambulance came with a nurse on board and they took my son and his father to Ohakune. The doctor decided to send my son to Wanganui Hospital but again there was a delay as an ambulance had to come from Waiouru to take them down there and so three hours later they arrived and then things started moving to help my son. I feel as a parent that there was lack of assistance for my son and now I know not to rely on the Centre. It wasn't the nurse's fault and I now know, after talking to the head of the Waimarino Health Centre, that all they can do is refer people to the doctor on call because the centre is not an accident and emergency centre. I will be dailling 1 1 1 in the future if my son, or for that matter any of us, have medical difficulties after hours. We have very hard working doctors and nurses and I have had very caring help from these people in the past. I am sorry I was rude to that nurse and I have already apologised to her and she was very understanding as she too is a parent. Before people judge me they should stop and think as they too may find themselves in the same situation as my son. I would therefore urge people to dial 111 because it could mean the difference between life and death.

Jessie's

Mother