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Home / New Zealand

Gastro compo knock-back 'disgusting'

By Andrew Ashton
Hawkes Bay Today·
6 Dec, 2017 01:43 AM4 mins to read

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Archive: In August 2016, John Key spoke on the Havelock North water crisis.

The same day a Government report pointed to Hastings District Council's failings surrounding the Havelock North drinking water scandal, a victim left badly ill for nearly a year has hit out the council's "disgusting" compensation process.

Rachael Campbell was one of more than 5000 people to fall ill last year, after the Havelock North drinking water supply became contaminated with a serious stomach bug -causing bacteria.

Speaking to Hawke's Bay Today she said after months of illness, numerous trips to hospital and one "very painful" operation, the council's decision to decline her application for compensation for medical expenses of $500 was "disgusting."

"It's just a slap in the face.

"I did the application through the council and obviously had to go through the doctor. I was so sick.

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"I still believe I have a compromised immunity because of campylobacter. I have never been so sick.

"I first became ill on the Tuesday, on the Wednesday I had an unrelated appointment and the doctor sent me straight to A & E, he was really concerned and they pumped me full of antibiotics."

Following a week off work she was back at the emergency department with severe stomach pain, where she was given very strong intravenous antibiotics.

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"Subsequently I had another week off work, and I had to send my daughter away because I couldn't look after her because I was just too sick. Since then i have had to have a Haemorrhoidectomy, which is a very unpleasant operation.

"That was exacerbated because of all the bowel movements - my backside was completely broken.

"That was more time off work, because that's a very painful operation."

She was in hospital again at Easter, due to a serious infection made worse by a compromised immune system.

Discover more

New Zealand|politics

More than 700,000 Kiwis may be drinking unsafe water

06 Dec 01:11 AM

"It has just been constant, and it's a real slap in the face. For them to not even take the time to talk to me and discuss it is disgusting."

"I have no annual or sick leave and the cost of doctors visits and prescriptions, not to mention the purchasing of water, is in excess of $500."

It was particularly galling that she had followed the council's process, but yet there had been no contact prior to being called in to hear the decision to decline her application and informing her that there was no review or appeal process to challenge the decision.

"How can that be when I wasn't even spoken to by a (independent) medical professional. Basically they have just made a decision just on paper and I don't think that's thorough enough to represent what everyone went through."

Hastings District Council has been contacted for comment.

The campylobacter outbreak in August 2016 made over 5000 people violently ill and was been linked to three deaths.

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A Government inquiry into the contamination incident was announced the following month.

Those results were published today (Wednesday), and stated that several of the parties with responsibility for the water supply regime for Havelock North (in particular the District Council, DWAs and Hawke's Bay Regional Council) failed to adhere to the high levels of care and diligence necessary to protect public health and to avoid outbreaks of serious illness.

Hastings District Council would not comment on specific cases, or indicate amounts paid to individuals due to privacy reasons but confirmed 37 applications had been received.

"The two funding councils (Hastings District Council and Hawke's Bay Regional Council) took great care to put an independent process in place", HDC facilities and programmes manager Alison Banks said.

"The initial applications were reviewed by an independent medical professional who assessed whether those applications met criteria.

"Those that did, were reviewed by a panel consisting of two community representatives and a representative from each of the following organisations: Ministry of Social Development, Hawke's Bay Regional Council and Hastings District Council.

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"The process is currently being completed, with applicants being personally visited to be advised of the decision on their application."

People were elligible for compensation from a $200,000 fund if they had suffered a recognised medical condition that had lasted at least six months linked to symptoms consistent with campylobacter linked to the Havelock North water contamination between August 5 and September 6 2016.

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