Death in Waikato Hospital ED found to be 'an acute unexpected incident'

A rapid clinical review of a man's death in the emergency department of Waikato Hospital will lead to new national guidelines and improved signage in waiting rooms.

Dr Richard Sullivan, Te Whatu Ora's executive national director - clinical, said the review found the death was an "an acute unexpected incident".

It did not find that additional monitoring would have changed the outcome in this case.

The review document had been shared with the family, who had asked for privacy. HNZ said it would not be releasing further details on the case.

Health NZ would now put in place national guidelines for monitoring and assessment of emergency department patients waiting for their initial medical assessment.

"We are developing the guidelines to ensure that patients whose condition may deteriorate while waiting in ED are escalated appropriately.

"We are also reviewing signage in ED waiting rooms so patients have clear advice on what to do if their condition changes while they are waiting."

Monitoring of waiting rooms was normal practice in EDs and was being carried on the day this patient died. The national guidelines would standardise the frequency and nature of monitoring.

A group of experienced medical, nursing and allied health ED professionals would be established immediately to develop the guidelines, with a goal of having them operational within two months.

Wait times higher due to staff shortages closing two wards

Sullivan said EDs saw higher numbers of patients over winter, and Waikato Hospital had been no exception.

Recently, wait times had been higher due to the closure of two wards within the hospital to new patients due to Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) impacting on patient flow and unplanned leave of frontline nurses and doctors due to sickness.

Second review to be completed by August

Next, a Serious Adverse Event Review would investigate all aspects related to the case.

That will include the people involved, their tools and the internal and external environment, to identify opportunities for learning and improvement.