GP’s baby missive botch-up

A woman still grieving for her two stillborn children was mistakenly sent a letter congratulating her on ‘‘the arrival of your baby’’.

Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) has apologised to Sarah Wilson, from Christchurch, who was extremely upset after the mix-up last week.

Wilson, 45, lost babies in 2001 and 2010 because of a rare blood disorder.

Last week, she received a letter, addressed to her, from The Christchurch Doctors medical centre about ‘‘your new arrival’’.

The letter said the National Immunisation Register had contacted the medical centre with the child’s details and ‘‘we invite you to enrol your baby with our practice’’.

An enrolment form for the baby girl was attached. It included the girl’s full name, date of birth and NHI number – as well as Wilson’s address, home and mobile phone numbers.

The baby and Wilson share the same surname.

Wilson said she wasn’t enrolled with The Christchurch Doctors and had no idea how or why that clinic had her personal details on file.

She said receiving the was extremely distressing.

‘‘I thought ‘Oh my god, you can’t be serious’. I’m the worst person this could have happened to.’’

CDHB chief medical officer Sue Nightingale phoned Wilson to apologise on Monday.

Nightingale could not provide an explanation about what had happened but said the error was being investigated.

Wilson, who also received a letter of apology from The Christchurch Doctors, said she wanted an assurance a similar mistake would not happen to anyone else. letter