Investigation underway at Christchurch Hospital after patient died after visiting ED

An investigation into the care a patient received at Christchurch’s Emergency Department is underway after they died following claims they were wrongly triaged.

The incident happened last Sunday night.

Chris Lynch Media understands the patient was sent to the waiting room after being triaged by a nurse, and sometime after, in the waiting room, collapsed.

They were then rushed back into the ED where the patient passed away due to sepsis within an hour of collapsing.

Richard French, Chief Medical Officer Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury, said “we can confirm a patient who presented to Christchurch Hospital’s Emergency Department last Sunday evening, later died in our Intensive Care Unit.

The patient left the ED and deteriorated shortly after leaving and returned to the ED where they were seen immediately.

Sadly, the patient did not respond to medical treatment and died the following day.

French said “a formal review of the care provided to this person is underway.

We acknowledge our ED was very busy during this period which meant wait times were longer than usual.

Our heartfelt sympathies remain with the whānau at this difficult time.”