Family fed up with waiting on health system

BY JINNY REYNOLDS - NORTHERN OUTLOOK

A Canterbury family has made a life-changing decision to move to Australia to help their sick daughter, after months of delays by the health system here.

Colin and Patricia Vujcich have decided to relocate their family from Amberly to Sydney in a bid to get help for six-year-old, Eva, who has symptoms of Marfan syndrome.

Eva's quality of life has been deteriorating over the last five years while she has been waiting for various appointments necessary to diagnose her condition.

After an appointment made in January through the Canterbury health system was once again delayed, Mr and Mrs Vujcich decided to make the more permanent move to Sydney.

''It all feels like excuses. Our little one comes before anything and we are not going to put her through any more waiting,'' Mr Vujcich said.

Paediatrics doctor Philip Pattemore sent a letter to the family after Eva's last appointment with him explaining the delays and apologising.

''They said a doctor had died and they had lost Eva's files,'' Mr Vujcich said.

The latest delays, including being told of a doctors' strike, have frustrated the family.

''If they actually came up with a proper plan to help her we would have stayed but that just hasn't happened,'' Mr Vujcich said.

''It was a big decision and there were tears.

''I don't want to live in Australia, I prefer New Zealand but we will do what's best for Eva.''

Canterbury District Health Board's child health service manager Anne Morgan and Dr Pattemore stated in an email to the Northern Outlook: ''We cannot comment on individual cases but we can assure families that many many sick children receive excellent care in Canterbury each year.

''The size and structure of the private and public aspects of the Australian health system mean that those with access to it may be able to be seen earlier for some treatments than they would in New Zealand.

''However, the fact that some patients need to wait longer for treatment in New Zealand does not mean they are at any more risk from their condition. Those most in need are prioritised to be seen and treated first.''

The Vujcichs will stay with family in Sydney for a short while, but hope to find their own place. Both Mr and Mrs Vujcich also need to find work.

They said within a six-month period, Eva will have completed the tests and operations she needed.