Bowel surgery done after ED admission

DUNEDIN woman Gaynor Bungard (69) has received crucial bowel surgery after being admitted to Dunedin Hospital in an acute condition.

With her body ‘‘breaking down’’ and in a ‘‘gruesome’’ situation as a result of her bowel, she was last month taken to the emergency department.

She was in hospital for two weeks, during which time her large intestine was removed, a bag fitted and a second operation carried out to deal with a major infection.

Mrs Bungard said it was a shame it took an acute admission for her to get surgery, but she was very appreciative.

‘‘It’s hard to get in, but once you get it, it’s beyond belief the care you get. I can’t put it into words. The dedication, the skill, the love and everything,’’ Mrs Bungard said.

Early last month, Mrs Bungard told the

ODT she was having to ‘‘starve’’ herself before leaving home because of severe ulcerative colitis, constant diarrhoea and intense pain.

She was approved for surgery to remove her colon and rectum in August 2016.

But nothing happened to advance the surgery, and on a trip to the emergency department in June, she was told it was not scheduled.

A letter written by Mrs Bungard’s gastroenterologist, Dr Michael Schultz, described her life as ‘‘miserable’’ and urged colleagues to look at her case again.

At the time, the Southern District Health Board told the

sicker patients had to take priority.