The death of a mother of three during cancer surgery could have been avoided if her referral to a specialist had not been lost in the system, a coroner's inquest has found.
Anita McCall, 48, died in August 2006 in Hutt Hospital from surgery complications.
Her GP referred her to a specialist for suspected haemorrhoids in January 2005, but she was not seen until 13 months later, by which time rectal cancer had ravaged her body, The Dominion Post reported today.
Coroner Garry Evans said Mrs McCall was "forgotten" after three referral letters got lost in the Hutt Valley health board system.
This reduced the chance to treat the cancer successfully, affected her quality of life and contributed to her death, a report into the incident found.
Mrs McCall's husband Tony McCall said his wife had no inkling she had cancer and was "gutted" by the diagnosis.
"It was a massive shock to us," he told the paper.
"I had to watch her go through all of this and it shouldn't have happened. She should still be here with me today. The mistake cost my wife her life."
Mr Evans' report comes just a week after the Health and Disabilities Commissioner revealed three patients suffered serious health problems after also being lost in the system.
Meanwhile, a woman had to wait four days in Palmerston North Hospital before receiving an operation to mend a badly broken and dislocated shoulder.
The woman and her husband, who would not be named, are reportedly livid at the wait.
The couple told the Manawatu Standard they did not want to criticise the staff who were great, but were angry the system did not provide enough money for staff to attend promptly to such an acute injury.
The woman broke her shoulder in a fall.
MidCentral District Health Board is investigating the delay.
