The New South Wales Health Minister has expressed his apologies after a disturbing error occurred involving a deceased patient. Colin’s father passed away on May 3 at Wyong Hospital after battling pancreatic cancer. The family was shocked to receive a survey letter addressed to the late Colin’s father on May 16, inquiring about his hospital experience and requesting feedback on potential improvements.
Colin recounted that upon receiving the letter, his mother was deeply affected and broke down in tears. She immediately contacted Colin, bewildered by the situation. “What the hell is this?” she exclaimed, highlighting the emotional turmoil the letter caused.
Colin described the incident as not only inappropriate but also incredibly distressing, reopening the wounds of their recent loss. He remarked that he believed there would be safeguards in place to prevent such occurrences and questioned how many other families might have faced similar situations.
In response to the incident, NSW Health Minister Ryan Park publicly apologised, acknowledging the severe impact of losing a parent and admitting that the department’s actions inadvertently exacerbated their grief. He reiterated his profound regret during an interview on 2GB, stating, “We made it worse, and for that, I’m deeply, deeply sorry.” Park indicated that there are normally checks to prevent such errors and committed to investigating how the mix-up happened to ensure it does not recur.
This unfortunate event has raised concerns about the processes within the NSW Health system and the need for effective communication protocols following a patient’s passing.