Apology from health authority three years after man’s death

‘‘I had no idea I would never see him alive again.’’

Francesca Sears pictured with her husband, Malcolm

Three years after Francesca Sears’ fit, healthy husband died from pancreatitis, Nelson Marlborough Health has admitted failures in his care.

In May 2017, the Nelson woman took her husband, Malcolm, to the Nelson Hospital emergency department after he was experiencing severe abdominal pain. It was diagnosed as ‘‘mild to moderate’’ acute pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas.

The 69-year-old died within 48 hours of being admitted to a place where Francesca Sears thought he was ‘‘in good hands’’.

‘‘It is disgusting.’’ Francesca Sears said the hospital failed her husband on many levels, ‘‘with their inexperienced staff, gross lack of communication not only between hospital staff but also to me, his wife, and total indifference to his needs’’.

According to a Health and Disability Commissioner’s report, released this month, Malcolm Sears was admitted to hospital in the early afternoon of May 17.

As his condition gradually worsened, he was seen by different doctors and nurses who often failed to write up comprehensive notes on his status.

‘‘NMDHB did not have a system in place that supported good communication between teams and ensured adequate oversight of nursing and junior staff by appropriately senior clinicians,’’ the commissioner found.

He found there was ‘‘a lack of clarity about who had overall responsibility for Mr Sears’ care’’.

It wasn’t until 8am on May 19 that Malcolm Sears was moved to intensive care where he suffered a cardiac arrest four hours later and died. Francesca Sears said there was no indication from any staff that he could die.

She was with a sister-in-law when they were led to the family room.

‘‘I had no idea I would never see him alive again. To be told by two complete strangers he was dead came as a complete and utter shock.’’

She complained to the commissioner who found the health board had breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights over his care.

‘‘Over the night of 18/19 May, staff failed to recognise Mr Sears’ deterioration adequately and escalate his care in a timely manner,’’ the report said.

‘‘As a result, there was a delay in transferring Mr Sears to ICU and consequently, a missed opportunity for him to receive treatment for his deteriorating condition at an earlier time.’’

In a letter to Francesca Sears this month, Nelson Marlborough Health surgical services manager Gillian Champion and head of department of Nelson general surgery Susan Seifried apologised.