In my letter today, I hope I might be excused for once again focusing on the National Referral Hospital and in particular the hospital’s existing overseas referral system or programme, as it might be referred to locally.
In past years, there was in place a long-standing outreach programme imitated by the Sisters of Charity at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney. The programme saved many lives of Solomon Islanders who were flown to St Vincent’s and given free medical treatment for which treatment at home was not possible.
Those patients with only a short life expectancy were treated under excellent medical care and with a high rate of success, and post treatment could be given back home without the need for follow-up treatment.
The St Vincent’ 10 bed system, as it became to be know, was a wonderful initiative and not only were many patients given a second chance of life, but the programme forged strong bonds between many Solomon Islander and Australians who gave dedicated medical care.
That outreach programme stopped some years ago and, despite talk, never re-commenced.
Nowadays, the NRH through its overseas referral programme and its committee, chaired, I understand by the NRH’s Medical Superintendent, currently Dr. Janella Solomon, tries to find hospitals in New Zealand or Australia able to receive sick patients in the care of the NRH who, if flown offshore for medical treatment, and often surgery, have a good chance of recovery.
I hate to say the arrangement is simply not enough, given the many patients that are in the NRH and who are not able to benefit from an offshore transfer and could possible get beneficial treatment, if only there was the money from the government, through the MHMS budget, to cover the costs of air fares and overseas hospitalization and medical attention.
Last week, I was deeply distressed when I learned that a 16 year old child suffering from rheumatic heart disease had sadly passed away before medical transfer arrangements could be finalised. In the case of that particular child a kind donor, via an appeal I lodged months ago, had vouched to sponsor the child’s medical costs at a Sydney hospital.
In was an exception that a donor had come forward but not all such NRH patients can expect to get help in the way that child was given the rare chance.
Today, I am aware of the case of Robinson Angikipau who needs urgent offshore medical care for his particular problem and I understand is considered for medical evacuation if only a offshore hospital can be found and funding to cover his medical costs can be gifted by kind people in the Solomon Islands. This particular patient was hoping for admission to a hospital in New Zealand but today learned the referral could not take place because the New Zealand hospital could not accommodate him at the present time.
I believe the search is now on for a hospital in Australia to take him – and presumably if family, friends and colleagues can contribute substantially to his medical care and stay.
I hope Robinson will get the help that he needs and this letter can contribute to funding coming forward.
Some correspondents have written to me saying it does not seem fair that Solomon Islanders engaged to work as contract seasonal workers in Australia get priority passages to Australia while the any sick patients in the NRH do not have the same chances to fly out for treatment.
While I can understand the reaction of parents and relatives of the sick making such concerns known, the seasonal employment scheme and funding is an Australian led and sponsored programme quite separate as to how referrals and costs relate to the NRH’s medical referral scheme.
It was claimed in the National Parliament this week by former Prime Minister Danny Phillip that China has agreed to upgrade the NRH. Will such an upgrade also ensure offshore medical transfers are funding through the MHMS? To me the necessity of such action is vital and the sooner there is in place a system similar to what was the 10 bed system, given an equal chance for medical care to those who are deemed likely to benefit, but who haven’t the financial means or support the better.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
