Irish visitor praises care

Ex-mayor Margaret Tolerton (centre) is being looked after by her son Ian Tolerton and Wanganui councillor Jenny Duncan. Photo/Stuart Munro

Still healing after unexpected surgery at Wanganui Hospital, Northern Ireland's Margaret Tolerton's biggest problem now is how to cram everything she's been given into her suitcase for the trip home.

The Irish dignitary has nothing but praise for her care while in Wanganui - a little longer than planned.

Mrs Tolerton left the city of Lisburn, near Belfast, as its mayor. She headed a group travelling to Wanganui to renew a 20-year-old friendship pact between the two places.

When she left she was feeling well. Her group arrived on Tuesday, June 17, and attended a string of official functions.

But she had started to feel ill during the aeroplane journey.

At first she thought she must have caught a bug or eaten something that disagreed with her.

By that Friday, June 20, her stomach was very sore, and she was taken to Whanganui Accident and Medical (WAM), at Wanganui Hospital.

She was quickly diagnosed with an abdominal blockage, and surgeon Gerard Bonnet performed emergency surgery early the next morning.

She then spent a further five nights in hospital, and said the care was exceptional.

"I can't stress enough the excellent care I got, from the very highest to the very lowest," Mrs Tolerton said.

She didn't have to pay for her hospital stay because New Zealand has a reciprocal agreement with Northern Ireland on health care for visitors. By the time she left hospital on June 26, Mrs Tolerton was no longer mayor.

In Northern Ireland that role is shared among the dominant group in a council, one year at a time, and her time was up. Her gold chain was sent back to Lisburn for her successor.

She's walking and eating now, and the wound is healing well.

Until Mr Bonnet says it's safe to go home, she's planning to do some more sightseeing and visiting.

In the meantime Wanganui councillor Jenny Duncan is hosting Mrs Tolerton and her son Ian Tolerton, who has come to take her home.

"Jenny has been looking after us like royalty."

Mrs Tolerton was elected to a further five years on the Lisburn City Council in May and is determined the relationship with Wanganui will bear fruit.

"We have a very strong economic development unit in our council. Ten years ago we formed a link with the Netherlands and that's been very, very successful," she said.