New Zealand hospital sent survey to dead man asking how he was progressing

The West Coast District Health Board (WCDHB) has sent a post-surgery questionnaire to a Westport man who died in Grey Hospital last month.

Eugene (Hughie) O'Keefe, of Carters Beach, who turned 80 in March, was admitted to Grey Hospital on May 2 for surgery to remove two melanomas. He suffered a stroke on May 6 and died on May 19.

His widow, Shirley O'Keefe, received a post-surgery questionnaire addressed to him this week.



"As a follow-up to your recent surgery at Greymouth Hospital, we would like to inquire about your progress and ask you to complete the following questionnaire and return in the envelope provided," it said. O'Keefe said it was "devastating" to read the letter.

"I cannot understand how this can be allowed to happen. Surely checks should be made on the patient's records before any correspondence is entered into," she said.

Board chief executive Kevin Hague said similar letters went to all patients who were routinely discharged from hospital after surgery. "Unfortunately, a human error resulted in the computer that produces a list of surgery patients generating a list that had Mr O'Keefe's name on it. Such mistakes are regrettable and very rare," he said.