Cab called for dying man

A dying South Canterbury man was bundled into a wheelchair taxi by Timaru Hospital staff and sent to a hospice hours before he died. Samesh Mohanlall reports

Friends say Philip Wakefield, 58, was ‘robbed’ of a dignified death when he was discharged from Timaru Hospital on December 11 because they were running out of beds.

Close friends Eric and Barbara Solomon say Wakefield was in no condition to leave the hospital, but was put into a taxi in his wheelchair and taken to the South Canterbury Hospice.

He died later that night, and the hospital admitted it was a poor judgement call. The hospital also acknowledged nursing staff involved were concerned about Wakefield on the night but did not speak up.

Wakefield, who lived alone and was in the final stages of stomach cancer, was found by Eric Solomon in very poor health a few days before he died.

‘‘He was struggling for breath and his stomach was blown up, so I called the ambulance and we followed him in,’’ Eric said. His condition deteriorated, and he was sent to a hospice a few days later.

‘‘We are disgusted that a dying man can be shipped off into a taxi, sent to hospice because apparently the charge nurse was under stress and they needed a bed,’’ Barbara said. After his death, the Solomons laid a formal complaint with the South Canterbury Dis- trict Health Board (SCDHB).

A meeting was held with hospital management who offered a ‘‘half-hearted apology’’, Barbara said.‘‘We were livid. They apologised to us in the meeting but that’s still not good enough,’’ Barbara said. ‘‘To me they are just brushing this under the carpet. I’d like to see to it that this never happens again to anybody. The staff (at the hospice) were absolutely appalled he was sent there in a taxi. They said he should’ve been left where he was at the hospital.’’

The district health board admitted they exercised poor judgement in sending Wakefield to the hospice in a wheelchair taxi. District health board chief executive Nigel Trainor said: "We can confirm we have been working with Mr and Mrs Solomon and encourage them to continue this dialogue with us.’’

‘‘We were livid. They apologised to us in the meeting but that’s still not good enough.’’ Barbara Solomon

DOUG FIELD/STUFF Eric and Barbara Solomon have called on the South Canterbury District Health Board to apologise publicly for the treatment their dead friend Philip Wakefield received in his final hours.