Media Statement
6 November 2003

O'Connor Says Further Investigation Not Needed

No further investigation would be held into the deaths of two patients earlier this year on the Capital and Coast District Health Board cardiac waiting lists, Associate Health Minister Damien O'Connor said today.

"I told United Future leader Peter Dunne in an answer to an oral question in the House yesterday that I would investigate the situation, but at the time I was unaware an investigation had already been carried out.

"This investigation revealed that in both cases surgery was postponed because emergency cases took precedence. One of the acute cases which caused surgery to be postponed was a transfer of a private patient from Wakefield Hospital because of complications which could not be handled at Wakefield."

Mr O'Connor said he had sent Mr Dunne relevant material from the Ministry of Health and Capital and Coast. This material had been made available to the Dominion-Post earlier this year.

ENDS

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