• After eight years waiting for publicly-funded surgery, Doug Pike put his beloved coastal bungalow on the market to pay for it himself.

A hand-painted ‘for sale’ sign went up outside the first home he and his wife bought together almost two decades ago.

10 days ago he shook hands with the buyer. Three days later, he received a letter from the district health board: his surgery was scheduled.

READ MORE VIA STUFF

adsense

Too Late

Stacy Squires/Fairfax NZ.
Doug Pike sold his home to pay for private surgery just days before he was told he would finally be treated in the public system.