Woman, 64, forced to wait outside Lyell McEwin ED with fractured hip in the cold for an hour

As more stories emerge of people being forced to wait for hours in the cold outside the Lyell McEwin Hospital, a top doctor has been brought in to investigate.

A former Australian chief medical officer will be brought in to investigate “shocking” queues at Adelaide’s Lyell McEwin hospital that sparked complaints of patients left shivering outside.

SA health minister Chris Picton said he went first-hand to the Lyell McEwin on Monday night after a “shocking” incident saw a grandmother forced to wait outside for hours in wintry conditions.

“I was glad to see (health officials had) made that immediate change to stop that lineup of people,” he said.

“Obviously this process was put in place over the summer months, but clearly when we get to winter that is not an acceptable situation.”

Mr Picton said Professor Chris Baggoley, Australia’s former chief medical officer, had been engaged to helm an investigation into the situation.

“If there are other suggestions in terms of how we can possibly avoid that from happening, I would be very welcome (to them),” Mr Picton said.

The Lyell McEwin ED on Mother’s Day. Picture: Supplied by family

It comes after revelations a woman with a fractured hip has revealed she was left waiting in the cold for more than an hour outside the Lyell McEwin’s emergency department nearly a week ago.

Jane Stevens, 64, fell while playing with her grandson three weeks ago and injured her hip.

After constant pain, x-rays revealed the severity of her injuries and her doctor urged her to attend hospital for immediate treatment on May 4.

The Elizabeth Grove woman was dropped off near the ED by her daughter just before 6pm, and waited in the cold while lining up for a rapid antigen test until at least 7pm, she said.

The hospital’s former policy to make people attending the hospital take a RAT outside the ED was overhauled after Advertiser.com.au revealed an injured elderly woman was made to wait more than two hours on Mother’s Day.

Maureen Wortley, and a diabetic father with Covid were among those waiting in 12C temperatures on Sunday.

Ms Stevens said staff at the hospital gave her a wheelchair to sit in after she told them of her fractured hip.

“I had packed a warm dressing gown so I did take that out and put that on over myself while I waited,” she said.

“They didn’t offer a blanket or anything, and I saw other people that were waiting that were a bit distressed, because one lady was in a lot of pain and very cold.”

Ms Stevens said people waiting were not appropriately dressed for the temperatures.

“It’s not fair, especially for people who are elderly and frail, to have them waiting out in the cold,” she said.

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

“If you’ve gone to emergency and you’re in pain or you’ve got a broken bone it’s not good.

“If they’re going to make people wait outside in the cold they should have those portable heaters outside.”

Mr Picton apologised about the incident and Premier Peter Malinauskas has launched an investigation into the circumstances at the ED on Mother’s Day.

SA Health will open a new Lyell McEwin emergency ward next month, and patients are now allowed to take a RAT inside when arriving for treatment.

But on Tuesday Mr Picton did not rule out patients waiting in the cold in the future.

“In times where there may be an extreme surge in patients there may have to be some people waiting outside,” Mr Picton told ABC Radio Adelaide on Tuesday.

“I think it would be a very rare situation that would have to happen, but if it does have to happen, we now have in place heating and amenities and shelter for people … but I’m hoping that doesn’t need to happen.”