Family facing tough times

A financially struggling Welcome Bay mother is upset at being denied medical care for her nine-year-old daughter due to an unpaid bill.

Solo mother-of-four Jules Watson phoned 2nd Ave Health Centre this month when her daughter's recurring bladder condition flared up but was told she couldn't come in until she paid a $32 bill outstanding from January.

Jules Watson studies while watching over her children play. Photo by Bruce Barnard.

Jules has four children aged between seven and 15-years-old and says she had no money at all that night to pay off the bill.

"If I did I would have paid the bill on the spot.

'I didn't want to clog up the hospital system; I've been there so many times, so I called up the after-hours doctors. I said: ‘I have this bill but my daughter's presenting quite unwell what I can I do?'.

'She said: ‘No you cannot come in until you pay it'.

'I think it's appalling to be turned away for medical help for your children.”

Jules took her daughter to Tauranga Hospital's Emergency Department where she waited seven hours among patients she says were far worse off than her daughter.

'It was just urinary infection that had flared up, she just needed antibiotics.

'In the end I couldn't even get them because by the time she was seen at the hospital all the pharmacies were closed.”

2nd Ave Health Centre manager Dave Gilbert says while he cannot comment on specific cases, turning away patients because of unpaid bills is not a common situation the centre faces.

'Most people pay their bills. We give people a right at times, depending on the situation, to postpone payment of the bill.

'We also give patients at times options to pay the bill over time, to drip feed back $5 a week.”

He says the centre will also assess the severity of each individual's situation.

'We would triage that patient, and if they needed to be seen they would be seen regardless of their debt.

'We're not going to kick someone out the door. They need to advise us of their situation as well.”

He says January is a long time to have not paid off a single bill.

Jules believes she is one of many families struggling to make ends meet, and says while a $32 bill doesn't look like much to most, for her it is a big sum.

She says balancing paying off bills or paying for food is something she faces on a weekly basis.

'The fact is that you really have to choose, whether you pay that bill or buy food for your children.

'Of course you have all intentions of getting that paid off, then something hits and you're stuck in that situation.

"Paying the bill off was an option for me, I had just put it to the bottom of the list and then let it slip my mind."

Each week the 38-year-old mother receives a $283 payment from Working For Families, and a $430 Sole Parent Support benefit, which includes accommodation and child support.

The child support is nearly $200, paid by the father of her three youngest children, who Jules split from in 2012 after a 13 year marriage.

'I end up with about $700 a week. It's a lot, but it's not when you pay $350 rent and have four children, it doesn't cover much at all.”

Jules pays a $10 weekly automatic payment to her regular doctor to keep on top of appointments during working hours.

On top of being a mother to four, Jules is also studying full time until the end of October 2015.

Tauranga Hospital's ED clinical lead Dr Suzanne Moran told SunLive earlier this month the department's workload is being unnecessarily increased by patients visiting with minor illnesses, who should be firstly seeking pharmacist advice or seeing a GP.

SunLive asked candidates in Jules' Bay of Plenty electorate how they would help families in similar situations.

Brendan Horan, NZ Independent Coalition: This is bigger than politics but highlights the need for NZIC that puts people first and has an economic plan encompassing a fair wage, and health as a primary care service for people, not a business. Sadly the tragic situation this family finds themselves in is more common than many may think. Please send her to my office and I will meet with her and ascertain a full picture of her situation, ensure she's receiving correct and full entitlements; and most importantly, that her children's health needs are met. I'm confident we can better her circumstances, as I successfully manage similar cases on a regular basis.

Clare Wilson, Labour: When families have to make such harsh choices, when medical care for children becomes a luxury, we know that something is not right in New Zealand.

Free GP visits for under 13s will help many families, and other Labour initiatives such as lower power prices under our NZ Power policy and no pressure to pay school donations will mean that there will be more money in household budgets for essential services such as medical care.

Todd Muller, National: This fantastic local mum is a great example to all of us. She has recognised it's possible nowadays to provide a future for her family. Her hard work and vision replicate what we're doing in the John Key-led government, having a strong economy that allows this to happen.

By building our country's economy, we have been able to increase free doctors' visits to cover all children under 13 years. That same strong economy will be in the best position to provide this mum with a job after her study.

It is also possible for her to get assistance from MSD. Depending on circumstances, she could be eligible for a food grant, an advance on her benefit or allowance, in certain circumstances the bill may be covered for her. A visit to her local WINZ office will get the ball rolling.

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4 comments

More rhetoric except for...

Posted on 29-07-2014 13:08 | By penguin

...Brendan Horan who showed empathy for the family. Unlike the other two political candidates, especially Todd Muller who simply sang from the same old boring mass produced Key song sheet, Brendan actually offered some personal practical help. By contrast, Muller was almost demeaning in his approach, rabbiting on about the future which does NOT deal with the present!!


recurring problem

Posted on 29-07-2014 19:56 | By rotovend

if this is a reacurring problem which seems odd in the first place perhaps she should ask her GP about a standby prescription for emergencies although constant penicillin use tends to make it useless. This mum could have enough help out of the existing system if she was given more advice on how to get the best help for her family. No offence but if BH wants to see every person one on one he is not really seeing the bigger picture of people being able to find out what they can really get help with. Labour wants to throw more money at the problems without actually solving them


Diet

Posted on 29-07-2014 21:11 | By Capt_Kaveman

does this child induce to much softdrink? which would be the cause of the problem and the lack of drinking just water, but then again this is the face of the times of what kind of govt we have.


Denied Healthcare

Posted on 06-08-2014 06:52 | By Horch

This has nothing to do with what the child drinks! What a ridiculous comment. This is not the first time 2nd Ave have turned away patients because of money. Every child in this country, regardless of the parents situation should be seen and treated, end of story. I presented myself at 2nd Ave clinic two years ago, it was a Sunday, I could barely walk and had a temperature of 38 degrees, and they refused to let me see the doctor until I paid the $80 fee ? I was dumb struck, I said I need to see the doctor now, but all the receptionist was interested in was wether I had the money to pay or not, absolutely disgusting! I had Mastitis, an incredibly painful infection and I had blood poisoning. I had the money to pay, but I couldn't believe how that was their main priority?


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