Health NZ Apologises After Patient Was Starved for 16 Hours a Day for Six Days at Whangārei Hospital

Heather Emsley, a 66-year-old woman from Whangārei, endured a harrowing experience at the local hospital, where she was forced to go without food for 16 hours each day for six consecutive days while waiting for urgent surgery. Emsley, who required the operation to treat a severe infection in her toe, has now spoken out about the ordeal, calling the treatment “cruel” and likening it to conditions in the Third World.

A Painful Wait for Surgery

Emsley first began feeling unwell on June 6, when she noticed her toe was sore and bruised. Over the following days, the pain worsened, making it difficult for her to walk. By June 9, her condition had deteriorated to the point where she was so confused that her daughter called an ambulance.

At the hospital, Emsley was treated with intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and painkillers after being admitted with low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and a high fever. She described the pain as “like a red hot poker” and said she was “almost screaming in pain.”

A Pin from the Past Becomes a Health Crisis

After being stabilised, Emsley was admitted to a ward, where doctors worked to diagnose her condition. An ultrasound eventually revealed the source of the infection: a pin inserted into her toe over 25 years ago to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Bacteria had somehow found its way into the pin, leading to a severe infection that spread through her body.

Emsley was scheduled for surgery to remove the pin and debride the wound. However, she was not allowed to eat or drink anything from 2 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day, a period that stretched over six days. This left her in a state of prolonged stress and emotional distress.

Health NZ Apologises and Acknowledges the Delay

Despite the delays, Emsley finally underwent surgery on June 22 at about 7:45 p.m. She was later informed that she should have had the operation within 24 hours, not the 140 hours she endured. This experience, she said, was “cruel” and far from what she expected from a modern hospital.

Health NZ has since apologised to Emsley and confirmed that patients in her category should have received surgery within six to 24 hours. However, Alex Pimm, the group director of operations for Health NZ Te Tai Tokerau, explained that the acute theatre list is prioritised based on patient need and clinical urgency. On occasion, this means that some patients expecting surgery may be deferred to allow more urgent cases to be treated first.

A Call for Improvement

Emsley and her daughter made formal complaints about her treatment, hoping that no other patient would have to endure the same experience. Emsley said she hopes that her case will help the hospital improve its processes and prevent similar situations in the future.

She received a six-page response from Health NZ, which apologised for her treatment and outlined plans for improvement. Emsley said that by making the complaint, she helped bring attention to the issues within the hospital system.

While Emsley is still recovering, she has been discharged from the hospital and is currently walking with the aid of a moonboot and a walking stick. She continues to receive intravenous antibiotics and wound treatment as part of her recovery process.

Health NZ has acknowledged the need for improvement and has committed to addressing the systemic issues that led to Emsley’s experience. However, the incident has highlighted the challenges faced by patients and staff alike in the current healthcare system.

As Emsley continues her recovery, her story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of timely and compassionate care in healthcare settings.