ACC says hospital at fault for meningococcal death

Organisational error contributed to the death of meningococcal victim Nileema Sharan, ACC has found.

Ms Sharan, 25, died of meningococcal septicaemia on June 26 last year - the day after she apparently hurt her neck at work and went to Wellington Hospital's emergency department.

She waited nearly three hours before giving up and going to an urgent medical centre, where she was diagnosed with neck strain, given painkillers and sent home.

ACC originally rejected the family's claim of medical misadventure.

But the corporation has told the family's lawyer, John Miller, it had reviewed its decision and accepted the claim of organisational error on the part of the hospital.

The change followed the critical report of independent adviser Peter Freeman, formerly head of Auckland Hospital's emergency department and now clinical director of Wellington's emergency department.

Mr Miller said the decision meant little in monetary terms - the family would get a grant towards Ms Sharan's funeral expenses - but it was important in principle.

- NZPA