Australian doctor posted at Gizo hospital criticises officials for overlooking victims needing urgent medical attention in Honiara

The only Australian doctor in Solomon Islands at the time of the recent tsunami has criticised the official emergency response to the crisis.

Doctor Penny Fletcher was posted at Gizo hospital and coordinated the medical response when the tsunami struck last Monday.

She says patients who needed to be flown out to Honiara for more serious medical attention were initally overlooked by officials.

She says, "The way I ended up getting a helicopter was to ask people who were strong to lift the patients up on their own beds, carry them down, put them on a marquee which was in front of the police station and allow everyone to see the horror of it."

Source: Radio Australia