Key Takeaways
- Briar Parfitt, a 40‑year‑old mother of five, died after leaving Palmerston North Hospital’s emergency department (ED) following a reported 25‑hour wait.
- Health NZ stated the ED was fully staffed and the average wait time on the day was about two hours, but records show Parfitt was triaged and called for assessment twice while she was absent.
- Parfitt suffered from chronic complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) after a failed surgery seven years earlier and was a frequent ED visitor for pain relief.
- She left the hospital with her teenage daughter, intending to go to Hawke’s Bay Hospital in Hastings for faster care, but became unresponsive in the car near Woodville and could not be revived.
- An autopsy was performed; the family awaits results while calling for systemic improvements to prevent similar tragedies.
- The incident has renewed public scrutiny over ED waiting‑time communication and patient safety in New Zealand’s public hospitals.
Background and Medical History
Briar Parfitt lived with constant pain stemming from an operation that went wrong seven years prior, a condition diagnosed as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The chronic nature of her pain required regular hospital visits for relief, and she was prescribed a controlled combination of THC and methadone to manage symptoms. Despite medication, her pain often flared, prompting emergency department attendances. Her family described her as a resilient mother who had helped relatives navigate their own medical challenges, underscoring the personal impact of her sudden death.
Events at Palmerston North Hospital
On Saturday morning, Parfitt arrived at Palmerston North Hospital’s ED by ambulance around midday. According to Health NZ interim group director of operations Kath Fraser‑Chapple, she was triaged on arrival and called for assessment within 90 minutes. When she did not respond to the first call, staff attempted a second contact 45 minutes later, again without success. Fraser‑Chapple noted that the ED was fully staffed and that the average wait time that afternoon was approximately two hours. However, Parfitt’s family reported that she was told she would face a wait of more than a day—approximately 25 hours—before being seen. This discrepancy between the family’s recollection and the hospital’s data forms the crux of the controversy.
Decision to Leave and Journey to Hawke’s Bay Hospital
Believing the wait would be intolerable, Parfitt opted to leave the ED with her teenage daughter. She returned home, where she reportedly felt somewhat better for a short period. By mid‑afternoon, her condition worsened, and the family concluded she needed urgent attention. They decided to drive her to Hawke’s Bay Hospital in Hastings, anticipating shorter wait times there. During the drive over the Ruahine Range, Parfitt became unresponsive in the passenger seat. The car pulled over in Woodville, about 20 minutes from Palmerston North, and an ambulance was summoned. Despite resuscitation efforts, she could not be revived.
Aftermath and Family Reaction
Parfitt’s body was placed in a pink coffin at her family home in Feilding, where relatives and friends gathered to pay their respects. Her father, Colin Adkins, expressed profound grief, describing the loss as leaving him “broken.” He criticized the hospital’s communication, asserting that if Parfitt had known the true wait time was only a couple of hours, she would have remained for treatment. Adkins called the situation “bloody disgusting” and likened it to “playing Russian roulette with people’s lives.” He also referenced a recent patient death in a toilet at Waikato Hospital, noting the eerie similarity and urging systemic change to prevent further tragedies.
Health NZ’s Official Response
Health NZ acknowledged the incident, extending sympathies to the family and confirming that the death had been referred to the coroner. Fraser‑Chapple emphasized that records indicated Parfitt was triaged and called for assessment twice while she was absent from the waiting room. The authority maintained that the ED was adequately staffed and that average wait times were low, but it did not provide specifics on the longest wait experienced that day. When Radio NZ inquired about potential investigations or further comment, Health NZ stated it had nothing additional to add beyond its initial statement.
Broader Implications and Calls for Reform
The tragedy has reignited debate over ED waiting‑time transparency and patient safety in New Zealand’s public health system. Families and advocacy groups argue that misleading or inaccurate wait‑time information can have fatal consequences, especially for patients with chronic pain conditions who may be unable to endure prolonged delays. Colin Adkins’ call for improvements echoes wider concerns about resource allocation, triage effectiveness, and the need for clearer communication between clinical staff and patients or their families. The forthcoming autopsy results may shed light on whether underlying medical factors contributed to the rapid deterioration, but the family’s primary demand remains systemic reform to ensure that no other family suffers a similar loss.