Pharmacy owners call on Government to take 'urgent' action after baby's death
Photo:
123RF
CAPTION: Bellamere Duncan died at Starship Hospital on July 19.
Photo:
Supplied
Pharmacy owners have written to the Government calling for "urgent" action, warning "lives are at stake" following the death of a two-month-old baby after she was allegedly given medication at an adult dosage by a pharmacy.
"We owe it to this child - and to every New Zealander - to fix a system that is failing," one pharmacy owner said.
It comes after
RNZ revealed Bellamere Arwyn Duncan died at Starship Hospital on 19 July
. The two-month-old was allegedly given an adult dosage of phosphate by a Manawatū pharmacy. A coroner's preliminary opinion is she died from phosphate toxicity.
The revelations have prompted the
Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand to "urgently" undertake a joint review
into the incident with Medsafe visiting the pharmacy to ensure it was safe to continue operating. The Pharmacy Council, which is also investigating, said it's "clear that an awful error has occurred".
Bellamere's parents are calling for a law change that would make it mandatory for medication to be checked by two people before it is dispensed.
Pharmacist Annabel Turley, owner of in Christchurch, earlier told RNZ the
pharmacy workforce was under "immense pressure"
, adding both the current government and the last had "been dishing out pharmacy licences like lollies".
Turley wrote to several ministers including former Health Minister Dr Shane Reti and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in October last year.
"I write to bring to your urgent attention the critical workforce shortages that are endangering the sustainability of pharmacy services across the country," she said.
Turley warned the profession was "at a tipping point".
"Pharmacists have been front-line healthcare providers for years, offering critical services such as medication management, vaccinations, and health advice, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, many pharmacies are under immense pressure without sufficient staffing, and our ability to maintain these essential services is seriously jeopardised."
She called for an "immediate moratorium" on issuing new licences for greenfield pharmacy sites until the workforce situation was addressed.
"Opening new pharmacy sites in the current climate only exacerbates the strain on an already overstretched workforce. Without adequate staff, these new pharmacies will struggle to function, and existing
pharmacies will be further depleted of resources, spreading our already thin workforce even more thinly."
CAPTION: Bellamere Duncan's parents were allegedly given an adult dosage of phosphate by the pharmacy.
Photo:
Supplied
On Thursday, Turley sent another letter to the Prime Minister, Health Minister Simeon Brown and other politicians.
In the letter, seen by RNZ, Turley said since her letter the profession had seen "no significant improvement in workforce stability".
She said Bellamere Duncan's death was "not an isolated incident".
"It is a symptom of a workforce under immense pressure-burned out, short-staffed, and stretched to breaking point.
"Pharmacists are no longer able to guarantee safe, consistent care in all circumstances. As one of the few remaining accessible front-line health services in many communities, this is not
just a pharmacy problem-it is a public safety issue."
Turley said, unless "bold steps are taken", including an immediate halt on new greenfield pharmacy licences, there would be "more preventable tragedies like this one".
"We owe it to this child - and to every New Zealander - to fix a system that is failing," she said.
"Lives are at stake. Let's not allow another preventable tragedy to occur."
Turley welcomed the opportunity to meet with the ministers to discuss solutions "to this crisis".
"We all want a pharmacy sector that is safe, sustainable, and resilient-and we need your leadership now more than ever to make that happen."
Bellamere Duncan's parents were allegedly given an adult dosage of phosphate by the pharmacy.
Photo:
Supplied
Another pharmacy owner and pharmacist, Anna Hewitt, wrote to Brown, Luxon and other ministers on Wednesday.
"Last week, our worst fear took place. A baby lost its life as a direct result of this Crisis. The critical workforce shortage has endangered the sustainability of Pharmacy in NZ and now it is having direct consequences on our Patients."
Hewitt said the workforce was "stretched, it is overworked, and close to burnout".
"This is not just a workforce issue, it is a Public Health Crisis. Pharmacists and Pharmacies are highly specialized, and the first point of call for many patients who cannot access timely health services.
"We dispense and catch prescribing errors, we advise both other health professionals and the public on medication use, we vaccinate, we treat, we prescribe in many cases. But we are not superhuman, we cannot continue like this with no support."
Hewitt referenced Turley's letter from last year.
"I know firsthand that other Pharmacists from around the country have also written letters to call for action within the sector. These calls have fallen on deaf ears as it seems."
She said the Government had added Pharmacists to the immigration green list and opened a new pharmacy school at the University of Waikato, which while they were steps in the right direction, they were "medium- and long-term solutions to a problem which is in immediate crisis".
"This isn't just numbers, this isn't just words on a page, this is real lives, real patients, real pharmacists who are desperately trying to hold it together, and care for their patients. The human face of this crisis is Bellamere Arwyn Duncan."
Hewitt called for the Government to stop issuing new pharmacy site licences and to look closely at how pharmacies were funded.
"We owe it to this beloved child that was lost, we owe it to all New Zealanders, we need to fix a system that is failing."
Pharmacists have written to health minister Simeon Brown to voice their concerns.
Photo:
RNZ / REECE BAKER
On Wednesday, a Ministry of Health spokesperson told RNZ there were a number of investigations underway.
"Medsafe has completed an urgent assessment and is comfortable there is no immediate patient safety issue at the pharmacy. Medsafe will continue to work with Health New Zealand and these findings which will inform the information provided to the Coroner. Medsafe is also sharing information with the Pharmacy Council.
"Once these reviews are completed, we will be able to look at next steps."
Health Minister Simeon Brown told RNZ on Monday he raised the incident with the Director-General of Health as soon as he was made aware.
"She assured me that there would be an investigation undertaken by both the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand. That investigation is underway.
"I am advised that this incident has led to Medsafe undertaking an urgent assessment of the pharmacy. A further investigation is being undertaken by the Pharmacy Council, and the death is also the subject of a Coroner's inquest."
Health agencies would provide information to the coroner as needed to support the inquest.
"It is important that the reviews are undertaken, and that the circumstances that led to this incident are understood. I expect that these investigations may propose recommendations, and that these will be reviewed once reports are complete."
The Pharmacy Council said it was unable to comment further when asked by RNZ on Monday whether it supported calls for a law change.
"Our enquiry and investigation processes are currently underway and, until these are complete, we cannot provide any further details. At the end of the process, we will make any recommended changes to ensure as best as possible an event like this does not happen again."
The owner of the Manawatū pharmacy that dispensed the medication said in a statement to RNZ the baby's death was "a tragedy".
"Our sympathy is with the family and whānau. This is a very difficult time.
"We are looking into what has happened to try to understand how this took place. There will also be external reviews which we will work with."
RNZ asked the owner how the medication was given at the wrong dosage, whether they disputed the allegations, when the pharmacy became aware the wrong dosage had been given, and what confidence people could have about other medication received from the pharmacy.
The owner said the pharmacy was "devastated about what has happened and are investigating to find out how this occurred".
"It is not appropriate to comment further at this stage."
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero
,
a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
27 minutes ago
- RNZ News
What you need to know about emergency medical care in New Zealand
Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi Frontline ambulance crews responded to more than 450,000 incidents nationwide in 2024, according to latest data compiled by Hato Hone St John. But do users need to pay for an ambulance if one is called to transport them to an emergency medical centre? And why does it sometimes take so long to see a doctor after arriving at an emergency department? In a medical emergency, it's good to know the answers to these questions and more ahead of the incident. Here's what you need to know about New Zealand's emergency healthcare system. Police advise people in a medical emergency to call 111 and ask for an ambulance if either someone has: Communications centres located in various parts of the country receive 111 emergency calls and coordinate the deployment of air or ground resources. In the event of a medical emergency, the communications centre will assign the most appropriate emergency unit to the scene. In most parts of New Zealand, ambulance services are provided by Hato Hone St John. In Wellington, they are offered by Wellington Free Ambulance. Large public hospitals have emergency departments, which operate 24/7 and are staffed with on-duty physicians around the clock. Find the locations of emergency departments nationwide here . It's important to note that New Zealand's emergency system is primarily supported by the public healthcare system. While some private hospitals do offer emergency medical services, insurance providers sometimes exclude emergency costs incurred at private facilities. Emergency departments typically do not provide non-urgent medical treatment. However, if a patient or injured person is near an emergency department and the condition is critical, they can be taken directly to the facility without waiting for 111 dispatch. Critical conditions include such things as heavy bleeding, broken major bones, bad burns, chest pain, issues related to breathing or consciousness, mental health emergencies, severe allergic reactions and injuries due to an accident (for example, a car crash). If an injured or ill person is a long way from an emergency department, police advise people to call 111 for an ambulance. Yes - and it's not cheap. For example, Hato Hone St John reports that each emergency deployment costs around $1000. However, users of the service are not charged the full amount. Citizens, residents or those with work visas exceeding two years are charged $125 per callout. For ambulance calls responding to an injury, whether a patient pays depends on the timing the service is provided. If the service is used within 24 hours of injury, Accident Compensation Corporation covers the cost. If more than 24 hours have passed, the patient bears the cost. It's worth noting that you might be charged a callout fee if someone else calls the ambulance on your behalf. For overseas visitors or short-term visa holders who are not eligible for public healthcare, callout charges can be as high as $800. Sometimes people question why they don't receive immediate treatment upon arrival at the emergency department. Upon arrival, emergency departments use a triage scale to assess and prioritize patients based on urgency. In New Zealand, emergency departments follow the Australian triage scale , which has five levels, with level one being the most critical and level five the least. Level five includes non-urgent issues, sometimes even administrative matters (e.g. consultations, prescriptions), and wait times can be as long as two hours. Level one includes life-threatening conditions that require immediate attention and take top priority. Additionally, there is a distinction between "emergency care" and "urgent care". Emergency care focuses on life-threatening conditions and often involves trauma cases (surgical). Urgent care is for less critical medical issues, with some clinics equipped to provide this service. How much one pays to receive emergency care depends on whether one qualifies for public healthcare. National health services directory Healthpoint says emergency care fees for short-term visa holders start at $566.72 per visit. Stays exceeding 10 hours will cost short-term visa holders at least $1768.47. Additional charges may also apply depending on the treatment provided, Healthpoint says. Emergency departments prioritize saving lives. Medical staff cannot verify a patient's public healthcare status during treatment. If a patient is ineligible, they will receive an invoice for the medical care they receive after treatment. Starship Hospital in Auckland provides a dedicated pediatric emergency department for children aged 0-14, although sometimes older teenagers with acute conditions may also be treated there. In other cities, larger hospitals usually have specialized pediatric services within their individual emergency departments. Emergency dental care is available, but not through an emergency department in most cases. Instead, dental clinics handle this type of care separately. Many offer after-hours emergency services, but routine dental treatment should be arranged with your regular dentist. However, if an accident causes a dental, oral, or gum injury, the injury may be treated during a visit to a regular emergency department. Some translation services are available at many hospitals nationwide. Upon arrival at a hospital, patients or injured people should ask staff to request assistance from an interpreter or arrange translation services online or by phone. If a person is ill or injured but does not need emergency care, Health New Zealand advises them to visit an urgent care clinic or consult their GP at the earliest appointment. They can also contact Healthline for free advice on 0800 611 116. Additionally, a pharmacy can provide advice and support for minor injuries.
RNZ News
11 hours ago
- RNZ News
Midwives to get 3.5% pay increase, $235 lump sum after settling pay claim
Midwives joined their nursing colleagues in a 24-hour strike on Wednesday. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel Midwives are to get a 3.5 percent pay rise and a lump sum of $235 after settling their collective agreement with Health New Zealand. It comes after thousands of midwives joined their nurse colleagues in a nationwide, 24-hour strike on Wednesday. Health NZ said the offer was over 29 months and would put a graduate midwife's base salary up almost $3000 to more than $85,000. A senior midwife's salary will increase almost $4000 to a little under $112,000 per year. In a statement, Health NZ said the "valued and important work" of midwives was reflected in the sizeable pay increases they had seen in recent years. Health NZ said it employed 1728 midwives and the workforce had grown by 111 full time equivalent positions in the 12 months to March 2025. The decision to settle the agreement was made by Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Services. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
16 hours ago
- RNZ News
Taupō struggling to attract doctors as residents rally to improve working conditions at town hospital
File photo. Photo: 123rf Taupō residents have vowed to fight to improve the town's hospital, which has faced dire workforce shortages. Those shortages have been so bad that contingency plans were drawn up last year to move patients to Rotorua Hospital if Taupō's clinic had to close . That would have left the area's 40,000 without easy access to emergency care - a situation those at a packed public meeting on Wednesday night say cannot happen. Long-time Taupō resident John Davis said locals should be prepared for a rumble in the battle to adequately staff the hospital. "I'm quite happy to organise, if people are interested. We'll get a committee together and we'll focus on one thing ... that Taupō Hospital doesn't go downhill, it actually goes uphill. "We'll get people who are prepared to stand up and be counted. I'm happy to stand up and be counted." Davis said the hospital proved its value to his family when his grandson was rushed there when he was younger and was revived several times before flying to Starship Children's Hospital in Auckland. The idea for a committee seemed to gain support from the more than 100 people who turned out to Taupō's Hilltop School at a meeting organised by Patient Voice Aotearoa. Others in the crowd suggested ideas to help find new doctors a place to live and settle in to the area. Among those attending was local nurse Iretana, who said shortages among healthcare workers in the region were having an effect on people. "They're getting put back. We can't get into appointments. People are swamping ED [the emergency department] and it's just not viable, so people are getting misdiagnosed or late diagnoses." RNZ has revealed the existence of the contingency plans should Taupō not be able to get enough doctors to keep the hospital running, although Health NZ says the plan isn't active. There are just 3.3 full-time equivalent senior doctors employed there out of nine funded positions, meaning expensive locums fill the gaps and permanent staff face burn out . One agency list seen by RNZ shows Taupō Hospital requires locums on seven days between 3 and 18 August, paying $300 an hour for weekday work and $350 an hour for night work. Robin Chan is a senior doctor at the hospital, and she said roster problems had persisted for some time. "What I don't see and what I haven't seen is any targeted funding to improve the most pressing issue, which is the medical workforce for rural communities. "It's not good enough to fund 100 new clinical placements or waive registrar training fees and expect those benefits to end up in rural communities." Too many health decisions were made through an urban lens that didn't work for smaller areas, Chan said. In her seven years in Taupō she's seen many colleagues come and go, and she said if doctors were to stay in smaller centres they needed to be valued. "The greatest predictor of rural practice, of doctors staying rural, is actually being from a rural town. This is where you guys come in," she told the meeting. "If you have children, and I don't care if they're a toddler or a teenager, or nieces or nephews or grandkids, for god's sake, buy them a stethoscope." Taupō Hospital's clinical lead Dr Ralston D'Souza said partly because of public pressure health officials were now working with hospital staff to make change. That includes creating eight more junior doctor positions, of which five were filled from later this year, to help ease the burden. "It's not uncommon on a shift to see about 15 to 20 patients. Nationally, the average is probably seeing about eight to 10 patients per shift. "That's the reason why we've struggled to attract doctors as well because they can work in Rotorua ED or other EDs around the country and it's much better working conditions." Overnight at Taupō just one doctor was rostered on for the whole hospital, which could put off clinicians. "The other thing that scares the locum doctors to come and work here is we've got a birthing unit right next door and birthing emergencies can happen. "If a birthing emergency happens in Taupō Hospital, it [could be] just the one doctor and midwife assisting the patient." Association of Salaried Medical specialists executive director Sarah Dalton said spending money on workforce conditions would help recruitment. "The single most important issue for our members, senior doctors and dentists, and for all those nurses taking strike action and their colleagues, is they don't have enough colleagues. There aren't enough of them." Patient Voice Aotearoa's Malcolm Mulholland said staffing was a real issue at Taupō Hospital, and the community had a right to know about the contingency plans and to act "as you see fit". Health NZ wasn't represented on Wednesday night, but in a statement said its executive regional director Cath Cronin had discussed the meeting with Dr D'Souza. "They agree that while there have been many challenges with recruiting and retaining permanent senior medical officers (SMOs) and filling vacant shifts, the SMO group feel supported to progress improvements at Taupō Hospital. "A change being made to the emergency department staffing model is an example of a partnership approach between clinicians and hospital management to support our people, while maintaining access to safe services for the public." Senior doctors had regular meetings with officials to present their ideas and plans, Cronin said.
