A rapid clinical review has been launched to understand how a Waikato Hospital patient died, after ending up unresponsive in an Emergency Department toilet. 

They were found early this morning - reportedly after waiting nine hours to be seen. 

The Nurses' Organisation says the ED is dangerously understaffed, and struggling to keep up with patients walking in the door. 

Health NZ Chief Clinical Officer Dr Richard Sullivan says he doesn't know how long the patient was waiting - but it certainly was longer than it should have been. 

"This shouldn't've happened - but we don't know the cause, we don't know the details yet, and that is going to be part of our review."

LISTEN ABOVE

A rapid clinical review has been launched to understand how a Waikato Hospital patient died, after ending up unresponsive in an Emergency Department toilet.&nbsp;
They were found early this morning - reportedly after waiting nine hours to be seen.&nbsp;
The Nurses' Organisation says the ED is dangerously understaffed, and struggling to keep up with patients walking in the door.&nbsp;
Health NZ Chief Clinical Officer Dr Richard Sullivan says he doesn't know how long the patient was waiting - but it certainly was longer than it should have been.&nbsp;
"This shouldn't've happened - but we don't know the cause, we don't know the details yet, and that is going to be part of our review."
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Dr Richard Sullivan: Health NZ Chief Clinical Officer on the investigation into Waikato Hospital death

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ecd04cba-a8f4-4401-8453-b47900677cd0/transcript