Health NZ finally notifies Westport worker’s widow

Lisili Lozano with her husband Leo.
photo: Delivered

Three months after launching a Review of the serious incident in the death of a Filipino carpenter at Buller HospitalHis widow told Health New Zealand (HNZ).

Malcolm Mulholland
photo: THINGS / David Unwin

HNZ confirmed it had contacted Licely Lozano on Wednesday afternoon. He made the contact just hours after Patient Voice Aotearoa chairman Dr Malcolm Mulholland called on Health Minister Dr Shane Rathe to intervene, with Dr Rathe telling HNZ he expected a “proper and compassionate » communication with Leo Lozano’s widow.

HNZ denies that Dr Rethy’s directive prompted it to contact her.

“This did not require instructions from the minister, we always intended to keep in touch with his family,” the spokeswoman said. News. “Because Mr. Lozano presented himself as a random patient, it took us some time to find the correct contact details for his family.

“The connection was established after we were able to get the correct number, which means we will be able to talk to Mrs. Lozano all the time. Our sincere condolences to the family.”

News asked HNZ why it took more than three months to find Licely Lozano’s contact details – and only on the day the minister intervened – when details were available from several people, including Mulholland and this reporter.

HNZ did not respond.

Mulholland said he was glad Lisili Lozano had now heard about the review of her husband’s death directly from HNZ, “but I’m angry that it happened”.

“Health New Zealand likely received a call from the Health Minister’s office after being publicly humiliated for not having the decency to obtain her readily available contact details and taking a short time to write an email or pick up the phone,” Mulholland said. .

“It is unacceptable that Mrs. Lozano should be contacted three months after her husband’s death and after the investigation began. Some Health New Zealand staff are clearly either heartless or incompetent.”

Leo Lozano, 51, died of a ruptured aorta on July 17, hours after being sent home from Buller Hospital with a diagnosis of a stomach ulcer and high blood pressure. He has been working in Westport since February 2023 to support his family in the Philippines.

His death left his wife and four children without a husband, father and sole breadwinner.

Licely Lozano told RNZ two weeks ago that she had no information from HNZ about the review or any contact with HNZ. At the time, HNZ said the family would be included in the review.

Leo Lozano’s death is also the subject of a complaint by the Health and Disability Commissioner and a coronial inquest.

– This story was first published by the Westport News