Lyell McEwin Hospital made ‘insufficient attempts’ to help Maureen Wortley, 92, left outside for hours in freezing conditions

A report has revealed how the Lyell McEwin Hospital left an elderly patient – and others – outside in freezing conditions for hours.

Staff at the Lyell McEwin Hospital made “insufficient attempts” to address the needs of a 92-year-old woman forced to wait outside the hospital last month in freezing conditions.

The state government on Monday released a report after Maureen Wortley – and others – were left waiting outside the overcapacity emergency department for nearly two hours.

Ms Wortley, who presented to the ED after suffering a fall in her northern-suburbs home, was left without a blanket and wearing just a dressing gown when temperatures dipped to 12C.

The report, by former Australian chief medical officer Professor Chris Baggoley, found the incident was an “oversight” by the Northern Adelaide Local Health Service.

“Portable heating for the waiting patients and the proactive provision of blankets to them on that cold evening would, most likely, have prevented the distress that has been described,” he wrote in the report.

“The situation was the result of an oversight by the LMHS, given that plans were in place to (RAT) test patients internally in the event of hot weather, but not in the event of cold weather.

“It is unfortunate that this situation occurred.”

Prof Baggoley said he had spoken with Ms Wortley’s family and accepted that she and others

“were significantly affected by the cold that evening and that insufficient attempts were made to address those needs”.

Maureen Wortley was forced to wait outside the Lyell McEwin Hospital's emergency department for two hours in the freezing cold. Picture: Supplied by family

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

Prof Baggoley said the hospital had “recognised the oversight and taken steps to ensure it does not happen again”.

After the incident was reported by The Advertiser, the policy forcing patients wait outside hospitals for rapid antigen tests was changed.

At the time of announcing the review, Premier Peter Malinauskas labelled the incident a “substantial stuff up”.

Health Minister Chris Picton said the report had acknowledged the issue had been addressed.

“I’ve spoken to a family who have been appreciative of the report and the work that’s been taken to make sure that this doesn’t happen again,” Mr Picton said.

“This (report) will be something that we clearly raise with the board now to make sure that in the future we don’t see incidents like this occurring again.”