The grieving family of an elderly couple who died within days of each other have launched a scathing accusation of negligence against their local hospital, claiming a simple doctor's appointment could have saved both lives.
A Tragic Sequence of Denied Care
Margaret Wing, 64, and her partner Steven Jackson, 76, both succumbed to Influenza A on November 16. Their deaths came after they were allegedly turned away from Inverell Hospital in northern New South Wales, with a staff member reportedly informing them that no doctors were available to see them.
The couple's health had been deteriorating after they fell ill with what initially seemed like minor cold symptoms. Unable to secure a local GP appointment, Ms Wing telephoned the hospital on Friday, November 14, seeking urgent medical assistance. She was allegedly told they could not be seen until after the weekend. Tragically, by Sunday evening, both were found unresponsive in their home.
Daughter's Anguish and Search for Answers
The couple's daughter, Mandy Wing, is now demanding a full explanation and has placed blame for her parents' deaths squarely on the hospital. "I'm upset and really angry because it could have been prevented," Ms Wing stated. "If my mum or dad got to see a doctor, one of them, or maybe both of them, would still be alive."
Ms Wing described a desperate series of phone calls. After her mother's initial contact, she herself rang the hospital, stressing how severely ill her parents were. "The nurse was a bit rude really," she recalled. "Maybe they were understaffed, maybe she was trying her best, but that's no excuse. They have a duty of care and I was just told there was no doctor available."
It was only after their deaths that the family learned alternative options might have existed. They claim they were never informed the couple could have presented at the emergency department or called triple zero for an ambulance to Armidale Hospital, over an hour away.
Devastating Final Moments and a Call for Change
In the aftermath, Ms Wing discovered heartbreaking final messages on her parents' phones. "My dad had messaged my mum asking how she was feeling and she replied saying she was in agony," she shared. "It was so difficult reading that."
Nearly two months on, Ms Wing says she has made multiple complaints but is yet to receive a response from Inverell Hospital or NSW Health Minister Ryan Park. "I just don't want this to happen to anybody else," she asserted. "My parents worked hard... They didn't deserve to die like this."
The case raises serious questions about rural healthcare access and protocol communication during staff shortages. Both Inverell Hospital and NSW Health have been contacted for comment regarding the allegations.
