Health authorities in New South Wales have initiated a formal investigation into a regional hospital after a tragic case emerged where an elderly couple died within days of allegedly being refused medical treatment.
A Fatal Refusal of Care
Margaret Wing, 64, and Steven Jackson, 76, both lost their lives to Influenza A on November 16. The couple's deaths came after a worker at Inverell Hospital, located in northern New South Wales, reportedly informed them that no doctors were available to see them. The couple had fallen ill, and as their condition worsened, Ms Wing telephoned the hospital on Friday, November 14, desperately seeking help. She was allegedly told they could not be seen until after the weekend.
Tragically, their situation deteriorated rapidly. Both were discovered unresponsive at their home by their 18-year-old grandson on the evening of Sunday, November 16. The couple's daughter, Mandy Wing, holds the hospital directly responsible for their deaths, stating her initial formal complaint received no response.
A Daughter's Fight for Answers
Following coverage by the Daily Mail, officials have now confirmed they are reviewing the circumstances surrounding the deaths. While Mandy Wing has expressed relief that action is finally being taken, she emphasised that nothing can compensate for her loss. "They said they are putting policies in place," she stated. "Great for the future but unfortunately not for my parents."
Ms Wing firmly believes her parents' deaths were entirely preventable. "If my mum or dad got to see a doctor, one of them, or maybe both of them, would still be alive," she said. She described how her parents' illness began with minor symptoms but escalated quickly after they were unable to secure a local GP appointment.
Concerned by the initial response her mother received, Ms Wing personally called the hospital. "I spoke to the nurse who answered the phone with 'hello, emergency', and I stressed how sick they were," she recounted. "The nurse was a bit rude really. Maybe they were understaffed... but that's no excuse. They have a duty of care and I was just told there was no doctor available."
Official Response and Ongoing Grief
A spokesman for the Hunter New England Local Health District offered sincere condolences to Ms Wing. "We are reviewing the circumstances surrounding the family's contact with Inverell Hospital and have contacted Ms Wing to discuss her concerns," the statement read. It insisted that NSW public hospitals never turn away people needing urgent emergency care and that Inverell Hospital provides safe, high-quality emergency care around the clock.
The spokesman added that when a doctor is not physically on site, patients are supported via on-demand virtual care, with specialist emergency doctors guiding local nursing staff. However, Ms Wing claims her family was never informed of these alternatives. "We didn't know they could go by ambulance and be seen at Armidale Hospital... We were never told they could still go to emergency at Inverell and access the digital doctor service," she explained.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park also extended his sympathies to the family, reiterating that emergency departments will never refuse emergency care. He acknowledged the ongoing review by the local health district.
For Mandy Wing, the devastating loss is compounded by the struggle for accountability. "I'm mentally not okay," she admitted. "I can't grieve because who loses their parents at the same time? It doesn't feel real. I just don't want this to happen to anybody else." The investigation continues as the family seeks to understand the full sequence of events that led to this double tragedy.
