Key Takeaways
- Briar Parfitt, 40, died en route to Hawke’s Bay Hospital after leaving Palmerston North Hospital’s emergency department (ED) because she was told she would face a wait of more than 24 hours.
- Health NZ states the ED was fully staffed, the average wait time on that Saturday was about two hours, and records show Parfitt was called for assessment within 90 minutes of triage but was not present when called.
- The family believes the long‑wait information contributed to her decision to leave, and they argue the incident reflects broader systemic failures in New Zealand’s health system.
- An autopsy has been performed; the coroner’s investigation is pending, and the family seeks answers and improvements to prevent similar tragedies.
Background of Briar Parfitt’s Condition
Briar Parfitt suffered from complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a chronic pain disorder that developed after a surgical procedure went wrong seven years earlier. The condition caused relentless discomfort, requiring frequent hospital visits for pain management. She was prescribed a controlled combination of THC and methadone, which sometimes alleviated her symptoms but was not consistently effective. Her father, Colin Adkins, described her pain as “constant” and noted that she had become a regular presence at Palmerston North Hospital’s ED seeking relief.
Events Leading to the Hospital Visit
On Saturday afternoon, Parfitt arrived at Palmerston North Hospital’s ED by ambulance around midday, accompanied by her teenage daughter. After being triaged, she was informed that the expected wait to be seen by a clinician would exceed 24 hours. Distressed by the prospect of a day‑long wait, she decided to leave the department and return home, where she briefly felt somewhat better. By mid‑afternoon, however, her pain had worsened again, and the family concluded that she needed medical attention promptly.
Decision to Transfer to Hawke’s Bay Hospital
Believing that Hawke’s Bay Hospital in Hastings would offer a shorter wait, the family arranged to drive Parfitt there. Her daughter took the wheel while Parfitt sat in the passenger seat. As they traveled over the Ruahine Range toward Hastings, Parfitt became unresponsive. The vehicle was pulled over in Woodville, roughly 20 minutes from Palmerston North, and an ambulance was summoned. Despite emergency responders’ efforts, Parfitt could not be revived.
Medical Response and Official Statements
Health NZ’s interim group director of operations for MidCentral, Kath Fraser‑Chapple, issued a statement confirming that Parfitt arrived at the ED around noon, was triaged, and was called for assessment within 90 minutes of triage. She was not present when called, and a second call 45 minutes later also found her absent. Fraser‑Chapple emphasized that the ED was fully staffed to meet demand and that the average wait time that Saturday was approximately two hours. The death has been referred to the coroner, and Health NZ said it had nothing further to add beyond the expressed sympathy.
Family’s Reaction and Allegations
Colin Adkins, Parfitt’s father, expressed profound grief and anger, stating that if his daughter had known the wait would be short, she would have remained at Palmerston North Hospital. He described the situation as “playing Russian roulette with people’s lives,” criticizing the health system for allegedly providing misleading wait‑time information that endangered patients. Adkins recounted a recent conversation about a patient who died in a toilet at Waikato Hospital, noting the tragic irony that his own family would soon endure a similar loss.
Broader Concerns About the Health System
Adkins urged for systemic improvements, arguing that too many families are losing loved ones due to preventable failures in emergency care. He highlighted Parfitt’s role as a mother of five and a supporter of other relatives dealing with medical issues, underscoring the personal impact of her death. The family had planned a trip to Fiji in six weeks, a prospect Parfitt had eagerly anticipated; now they face the prospect of traveling with her ashes instead.
Pending Investigations and Next Steps
An autopsy was performed over the weekend, and the family awaits the coroner’s findings to determine the exact cause of death and whether any lapses in care contributed to the outcome. While Health NZ maintains that the ED operated within normal parameters, the discrepancy between the family’s account of a 25‑hour wait and the official average wait time raises questions about communication, triage processes, and the accuracy of wait‑time reporting. The coroner’s inquiry will likely examine hospital records, staffing levels, and the information given to patients at the time of triage.
Conclusion
The tragic death of Briar Parfitt has sparked grief, outrage, and a call for transparency within New Zealand’s emergency department services. As the family mourns and waits for the coroner’s report, the incident underscores the critical need for reliable communication of wait times, adequate staffing, and compassionate care to prevent similar losses in the future. The hope is that the investigation will yield actionable insights that strengthen the health system and honor Parfitt’s memory by protecting other patients from preventable harm.