The Dunedin truck driver mentioned to Dr Doug Hill, of Broadway Medical Centre, a brain scan he had at Dunedin Hospital more than nine months ago.
He had been sent for the scan because of problems with vision and balance, but never heard the result and wondered what had happened to it. Mr Bonney told the Otago Daily Times Dr Hill found the image on his computer and showed it to Mr Bonney, who took a photo of it with his cellphone.
It showed an arachnoid cyst, which needed to be removed, Mr Bonney said. Mr Bonney (51) said Dr Hill told him he must stop driving. The driver is now on leave from his job.
"[The GP’s] eyes were getting bigger and bigger," Mr Bonney said.
"[Dr Hill] said: ‘See that here, that ain’t supposed to be there’."
Arachnoid cysts are benign and are removed if they cause neurological problems.
Mr Bonney said his vision and balance problems had continued in recent months, and the delay was unacceptable. Driving 54-tonne trucks, he had inadvertently put the public at risk, he said.
"I’ve been endangering other road users and myself."
Mr Bonney said one clinician had suggested, before the scan, his ongoing problem might be caused by anxiety.Hearing nothing of the scan result, he wondered whether he was being "paranoid", and should just get on with things. About four follow-up Dunedin Hospital appointments had been postponed since the scan.
"They kept putting it off and off and off."
Shortly after the Otago Daily Times approached the Southern District Health Board for comment on Wednesday, Mr Bonney was contacted by the board, and given an ear, nose, and throat appointment, scheduled for today. Mr Bonney said the appointment was cancelled yesterday by an ENT specialist, who rang him to explain and apologise.
Mr Bonney said the specialist told him the scan result had been transferred to neurology, and had somehow not been followed up.
He appreciated being contacted personally with an apology, but wants to hear from the neurology department about the next step. He wants the cyst removed as quickly as possible, and believes it is a straightforward procedure.
SDHB chief medical officer Dr Nigel Millar confirmed the board’s apology in a statement.
"While we do not wish to comment in detail on individual cases, we can say that we’ve been in contact with Mr Bonney to discuss his scan and made plans to ensure he gets any necessary care.
"We are also looking into his concerns and will investigate why things did not go according to plan. We have apologised to Mr Bonney and will continue to communicate with him directly," Dr Millar said.
Broadway general practice manager Fiona Mitchell and Dr Hill declined to comment when approached by the ODT.
