Sushila contacts her clinician and me by email, often many times a day. I would have literally hundreds of emailson file, and although we are unable to respond to every one, they are all read, and where possible we have tried to ensure we have addressed her concerns.
Rest assured, Sushila's daughter Alisha has received more attention, time and thought from me and many of my staff than any other Northland patient during my time as chief executive.
A few years ago, with the support of her incredibly caring and competent physician, and other NDHB staff and her GP, and pharmacist, we were able to get approval from Pharmac to allow Northland DHB to pay the over $10,000 a year for Alisha's medication.
This involved a number of letters, emails and phone calls to the chief executive of Pharmac. I understand we were the first DHB in NZ to pay for this medication to ensure this financial burden did not rest with Sushila and Royd and the Butt family.
Since that time, her physician, GP, and pharmacist have tried to respond to Sushila's numerous emails, even when they have been rather rude and disrespectful. Unfortunately there are rules regarding prescribing of potentially toxic medications that medical practitioners have to adhere to.
This is to protect our patients, and Alisha was already at the maximum recommended dose. Earlier this week, well before the Northland Age article, I received a phone call as her physician had been given authority to prescribe a dose that was higher than the maximum recommended dose as long as all prescriptions were endorsed acknowledging this.
Alisha's physician contacted Sushila to let her know this and that Northland DHB were happy to pay the extra cost (at least $3000 more per year), and that this should provide her with confidence that her supply would not run out.
