Mildura hospital's paper system leaves 150 cancer referrals unprocessed for 16
Mildura hospital left 150 cancer referrals unprocessed for 16 months. A patient died.
A Victorian regional hospital using paper records failed to process 150 cancer referrals. Some sat in cardboard boxes for up to 16 months.
Patients needed tests for suspected cancer or treatment for confirmed skin cancers. Mildura Base Public Hospital reported the incident to Safer Care Victoria, the state's health regulator.
A cancer patient died and another got a terminal diagnosis while waiting. A health worker said fast triage would have made those patients top priority.
They should have seen a specialist within 30 days. The problem shows a bigger issue.
Many regional and rural hospitals across Australia still use paper systems. Doctors have asked for digital upgrades for more than a decade.
Why it mattersOutdated paper systems in regional hospitals are slowing down cancer diagnosis and treatment. This can lead to death.
AustraliaA Victorian regional hospital's failure to process referrals caused at least one patient's death, exposing serious gaps in rural healthcare infrastructure across Australia.
Corroborated bytheage.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 10 h ago
