In my last article I talked about our health system, the overseas medical scheme and the need for specialised training for Samoan doctors so more of our people can access this help. I will talk about my own experience, grateful to the government for helping patients who cannot be operated on in Samoa. We do not have the local expertise and resources available on the ground.

Remember, if you can afford business class tickets, buy them. Go early for your appointment as Auckland traffic is traffic. When we reached the waiting room, there were two other local patients waiting with their families who live in New Zealand. They were sitting in the dark, well not total darkness, but they were sitting in an unlit room. I turned the light on and joking said, “You know you can turn the light on, our government is paying for that too”. To which everyone laughed.

Once the ice was broken, they all started talking. Two elderly patients, a man and a woman both travelled here, a week before their appointments. We would’ve done the same if the patient received his emergency visa faster. There are 15-minute intervals for consultations and soon, the patient was called in to Dr Benjamin’s office. 

He explained the process. First, the patient will need a final blood test at any of the labs and a last x-ray scan before the date of operation is determined by the Auckland specialist surgeon. He gave us a form with small writing for the blood test and said we could choose whichever location was convenient. That cost will be paid by the clinic and subsequently the Samoa government. The hospital was like a maze and the lab previously called ‘Awanui lab’ changed its name, so it might be tricky for you to find it in the same building. I couldn’t find a receptionist in the lobby so we asked some of the porters in the lift to point us in the right direction.

The blood test consisted of one or two swaps too. Once that is done, it’s the waiting game. It’s been 5 days and we’ve yet to hear back about the blood results and the next appointment. While we wait, there are some things that we must remember if you are in the same situation. Remember to print all letters, emails or note any form of communication between yourself and the doctors. Make sure to keep a record of all doctors and appointments when you go to see them. More importantly, check that you are the actual patient they are supposed to see because mistakes happen. You don’t want to end up on the wrong operating table! 

I recently read an article about an Indian man who posed as a doctor at Middlemore Hospital in the last year, seeing 81 patients, who is now in jail. He forged medical degrees and resumes to land himself a job at Middlemore, where most of our people go for operations. What a scary thought, that someone with no medical training is operating or writing your prescription! Imagine a cleaner in Samoa operating on you and you never knew! How about the other Kiwi who did the same thing, forged her way into the UK health system as a physician for 19 years and got paid $2 million or more? The web of lies these people create to have the DR in front of their names.

How good is our own vetting and background check for non-Samoan doctors who are hired by the Ministry of Health? Something to think about as we enjoy another peaceful Sunday in Samoa.

• Enid Westerlund Samuelu is an aviation specialist, business consultant and author and loves to share stories and write children’s books.