This story was first published on Tuesday August 28
The Government says it's unable to pay for the medical evacuation of a New Zealand woman seriously ill in Bali.
Abby Hartley of Hamilton found herself in severe pain on the first day of a holiday with her husband Richard on August 1 and she was rushed to a private hospital in Nusa Dua, Denpasar.
According to a Givealittle page set up by her daughter Sophie, Abby's bowel had twisted, cutting off blood flow to a portion of it, and while emergency surgery went well, she then went into acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Doctors made the decision to put her into an induced coma and began supplying her oxygen through a respirator. She also developed a severe chest infection leading to one of her lungs collapsing. The family say she has since been moved to a public hospital, but antibiotics are now not working for her.
Her insurance company has declined to pay the hospital bills and the family set up a Givealittle page to help cover these.
"The longer we stay the sicker she is going to get, and the bills just keep increasing. We need to get her home," Richard Hartley has told the NZ Herald.
He had emailed Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on August 18 and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has now responded saying the Government is unable to help.
"I understand that Abby's situation is a very challenging one," Mr Peters said in his response, quoted by NZ Herald.
"However I have to confirm that the New Zealand Government is unable to fund the costs of medical care of evacuations for New Zealanders who become ill while overseas."
He recommended they approach their insurers, and the New Zealand embassy in Jakarta for consular assistance.
"I wish Abby well with her recovery, and hope she is well enough to return to New Zealand soon."
Mr Hartley said getting Abby home to New Zealand would cost up to $160,000.
He said the medical bills were at nearly $100,000 and still rising.
The Givealittle page shows $158,000 has been donated.
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