The NSW government has promised to make sure there is no repeat of the “horrible mistake” that saw the wrong side of a patient’s bowel removed at a Sydney hospital. The error happened at Sydney’s troubled new Northern Beaches Hospital last week. It’s understood the male cancer patient underwent corrective surgery on Friday. Issues with the patient’s pathology results from a private provider contributed to the mistake in some way, it has been alleged. NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the hospital had advised NSW Health of the “serious event”. “In such situations there are investigative processes and those must proceed to their conclusion before any further comment can be made,” Mr Hazzard said in a statement on Monday. “The patient’s privacy must also be respected.” Mr Hazzard has asked the hospital to provide all possible support for the patient and his family.
