Oamaru Hospital is not commenting on a Richmond man's criticism of the treatment he received there after being injured in the head-on crash which killed Timaru businessman Allan Hubbard, but Andy Earl is promising to take the issue further.
Mr Earl (40), who was driving a utility towing a trailer that was involved in the crash on State Highway 1 at Hilderthorpe on September 2, spent about one and a-half hours at Oamaru Hospital after being taken there by ambulance.
Yesterday, struggling to keep his breath, easily tired and still in pain, he told the Otago Daily Times he was "thoroughly disgusted" by the treatment he received and was planning to take it further once he was feeling better.
After returning to Nelson, he was admitted to Nelson Hospital with a broken sternum which had led to pneumonia. He spent eight days there, and now faces eight weeks' recovery.
Oamaru Hospital's acting manager, Colleen Moore, after being contacted yesterday, spoke to staff who were on duty and treated him.
After that, she said: "In view of the circumstances around the accident, it is inappropriate for Oamaru Hospital to comment, but would be happy to talk to Mr Earl personally, if he wishes."
Asked what those circumstances were, Mrs Moore said that was the ongoing police investigation into the crash and eventual inquest by the Coroner's Court.
Mr Earl was taken by ambulance to Oamaru Hospital where he was treated and discharged after the crash. He said he had three cuts to the head and "a very, very sore chest".
His head cuts were treated, but he was not offered an X-ray for his chest.
"That was it. I was sent on my way with some paracetamol and told I would be sore for a few days after a crash like that."
Mr Earl said that while he was at the hospital, he telephoned his wife, Janelle, in Richmond.
She contacted his parents at Moeraki. They drove to Oamaru Hospital and took him back to Moeraki for the Friday night, when he was discharged.
His wife booked a flight to Dunedin on Saturday and he returned to Nelson with her on Sunday. About 6pm that night, he went to Nelson Hospital.
"They took one look at me and admitted me about 10 minutes after observation," Mr Early said.
He was X-rayed and the broken sternum discovered. On Monday, the pneumonia was found.
Mr Earl still had no memory of the crash, but was having "flashbacks". He remembered lying on the road trying to breathe, and noise.
Mr Earl was travelling north, returning home, in his utility with the trailer, and Mr Hubbard (83) and his wife, Jean (82), were travelling south.
The two vehicles collided just south of the 45th Parallel plaque on the Hilderthorpe straight.
Mr Hubbard was taken to Oamaru Hospital by ambulance. He was treated, then flown to Dunedin Hospital, but later died.
Mrs Hubbard and Mr Earl were taken in the same ambulance to Oamaru Hospital, where they were treated. Mrs Hubbard was then being taken to Dunedin Hospital by ambulance.
She attended a private family funeral in Timaru on Wednesday for her husband.
Oamaru police said yesterday the crash was still being investigated, and that could take several more weeks.
