Delayed surgery linked to death of 74-year-old woman

Monday 17 March 2025 · 7 outlets · 5 reports · updated Mon 17 Mar 2025, 2:14pm

In this story Health and Disability Commissioner

A Health and Disability Commissioner inquiry found that surgery delays caused the death of a 74-year-old woman at Dunedin Hospital. The patient suffered a fractured femur after being knocked over by a dog and waited over 90 hours for surgery. The commissioner has instructed Health NZ to apologise to the family.

How they headlined it

2pm

1. NZ HeraldMon 17 Mar 2025, 2:00pm

   Health and Disability Commissioner: Woman dies at Dunedin Hospital after repeated delays in surgery (opens in new tab)

2. StuffMon 17 Mar 2025, 2:00pm

   Delayed surgery at Dunedin Hospital linked to 74-year-old patient's death (opens in new tab)

3. The PressMon 17 Mar 2025, 2:00pm

   Delayed surgery the ‘root cause’ of woman’s death after dog park fall (opens in new tab)

   Also on Waikato Times (opens in new tab), The Post (opens in new tab)

4. RNZMon 17 Mar 2025, 2:01pm

   Healthcare delays led to death, later cancer diagnosis - commissioner (opens in new tab)

5. Otago Daily TimesMon 17 Mar 2025, 2:14pm

   Southern delays led to death, later cancer diagnosis (opens in new tab)