Lyell McEwin patient Maureen Wortley speaks out after shivering through ‘stuff up’

A northern suburbs great grandmother says she’s embarrassed by the attention a hospital “stuff up” gained her as she reveals a mysterious call in the wake of the scandal.

A stoic Adelaide great-grandmother has told of being left overwhelmed at the fallout from her horrible ordeal sitting outside a major hospital for hours in 12C temperatures.

In what Premier Peter Malinauskas criticised as a “substantial stuff up”, Maureen Wortley, 92, was among multiple patients who waited in the cold outside The Lyell McEwin Hospital’s emergency department.

Mrs Wortley, who lives near the northern suburbs hospital at Elizabeth Vale, was left waiting for a Covid test for more than two hours on Mother’s Day after falling at home.

Maureen Wortley outside The Lyell McEwin Hospital's emergency department. She waited for two hours in the freezing cold, her family says. Picture: Supplied by family

Mrs Wortley says she has been left embarrassed at the blaze of publicity. Picture: supplied by family

Mrs Wortley – a mother of four with 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren and whose nephew is Labor upper house MP Russell Wortley – told of her distress at the events.

Breaking her public silence, the retired seamstress and respected churchgoer said she “didn’t complain” but instead followed instructions from the “kind nurses”.

“I’m a bit embarrassed to be honest, dear,” she said from her hospital bed.

“I didn’t complain. It was my son who did. I didn’t expect any of this over my fall. I’m not used to this – I’m pretty quiet.

“I’m good thankyou, love. The care that I’m getting is very good. The doctors and nurses have been so kind.

“The nurses here are absolutely marvellous. But it is not just me it’s everyone here. This is a great ward.”

But in a strange twist, she says a man identifying himself as Prime Minister Scott Morrison rang her last Monday night to apologise at the height of the furore.

Adamant she had not confused the PM with the Premier, she said he was “charming” and promised “I will make sure this will never happen again”.

Maureen Wortley with her grandsons Craig Lowrey, left, and David Csongrady. Picture: supplied by family

Maureen Wortley, far left, was forced to wait outside The Lyell McEwin Hospital's emergency department for two hours in the freezing cold, her relatives say. Picture: Supplied by family

But the PM’s office said Mr Morrison had not rung while Premier Peter Malinauskas’ spokeswoman said he also had not phoned the pensioner.

Health Minister Chris Picton, who made a surprise emergency department visit this week, has tried to get through but to no avail.

He has, however, spoken with her son Craig Csongrady, 55.

After Mr Malinauskas ordered a “thorough investigation”, Mr Picton hired Australia’s former chief medical officer, Professor Chris Baggoley, to investigate.

Within hours of The Advertiser revealing her plight, hospital chiefs and the state government scrapped the policy of forcing patients to wait outside for a negative rapid antigen home test.

Maureen Wortley celebrating her birthday. Picture: supplied by family

Nurses had heating. Picture: supplied

Mrs Wortley, who has six cats and a dog, said she was pleased changes had been made but wanted to thank medicos for her care and the public’s concern.

Her appalled family, who complained on her behalf, say she is in “good spirits” as she recovers from a fall at her home of more than 30 years.

She is expected to be discharged to the Modbury Hospital’s geriatric ward, in Adelaide’s northeast, in the coming days.

Doctors are investigating if poor blood pressure caused her to fall at 6pm on Sunday shortly before a family pub dinner with 20 relatives.

“There’s no break, which is good news,” said Mrs Wortley.

After a public backlash on Monday, hospital bosses apologised for a “miscommunication” in her case amid an overhaul of rules and urgent upgrades to facilities including more heating.

A row has also erupted over hospital staffing levels.