A 74-year-old man suffering from terminal prostate and bowel cancer did not get enough pain relief while at a private hospital, an investigation has found.
Photo: 123rf
The case was detailed in a report released today by Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner Rose Wall.
It began when the man was admitted to a private hospital in 2013 for pain management and palliative care. He remained there for 23 days.
Ms Wall said two registered nurses and the hospital, which was owned and operated by Bupa Care Services, made several mistakes about which drugs the elderly man received - and how often.
During the man's admission, staff stopped giving him the painkiller methadone. They did not realise their mistake for six days. The man's daughter said her father seemed overwhelmed by pain during this period.
He was given another drug, oral haloperidol, for five days, despite that prescription having stopped.
Staff failed, on multiple occasions, to properly record what drugs they gave him.
He was not told of the errors of his pain relief. His family was not told about the haloperidol error for 10 days. Twenty-three days after he was taken into care, he was transferred to another hospital and died shortly after.
Ms Wall said this was an example of "poor end-of-life care". The hospital failed "woefully" with its responsibility of care to the man and his family.
"At a time in his life when he should have been receiving good care, he was at times in significant discomfort because of errors and issues in the administration of pain relief," she said.
Ms Wall recommended the Nursing Council consider competence reviews for the two staff members involved.
She recommended the hospital provide ongoing training to all registered nurses.
A Bupa spokesperson said it accepted Ms Wall's findings and deeply regretted the distress experienced by the resident and his family.
They said Bupa has formally communicated its sympathies to the family.
