Hospital 'system error' affects 633 patients | Manawatu-Wanganui News | Local News in Manawatu-Wanganui

IF YOU'VE been waiting and waiting to hear from Wanganui Hospital, you may be one of the 633 whose referral or appointment failed to get processed "due to a systems error".

Chief executive Memo Musa last night revealed at least 633 gastroscopy, colonoscopy, urology, oncology, and neurology referrals and appointments from October 2003 to October 26 this year had not been processed correctly.

This meant specialist appointments for those patients were not made at the time.

Every patient affected will be contacted from today to ensure they are provided with the necessary appointments for assessment and treatment as soon as possible And extra resources, including employing a Wellington urologist, who arrived at Wanganui hospital last week, have been put in place to cope with the temporary increase in referrals.

"All of the patients affected by the systems error have been assessed against established clinical criteria in the following standard categories of urgent, semi-urgent and routine, and an appropriate patient care plan is being put into place."

Those with urgent referrals would be contacted personally by hospital personnel "and a new appointment made at earliest opportunity.

"Other patients with referrals, such as semi-urgent or routine referrals older than three months, will be directed back to their GP for reassessment.

"Appointments for reassessments by GPs will be at no cost to the patient. Wanganui Hospital will pay for the cost of these appointments," Mr Musa said.

The error was a clerical one, discovered when another person had gone to work in the department concerned. As to whether more than 633 patients were affected, Mr Musa replied "I've been told that it is highly unlikely."

General practitioners in Wanganui and surrounding catchments areas, are also being contacted.

General manager Sue Capenerhurst said this would ensure they and their patients were fully informed of the situation.

Anyone with concerns should contact their GP or alternatively call the Wanganui Hospital on 0800-222-390, she said.