Lab should be open seven days: widower
Sheralyn Weepers, a te reo Māori teacher at Bayfield High School, died in 2023 on the day she was due to fly to Sydney for a life-saving heart transplant.
She was 48.
Her husband, Sam, said her death came a year after she had to be resuscitated at Dunedin Hospital when she had a heart attack on a Monday morning.
She had been in the hospital over the weekend with heart pain but had not been treated in the catheterisation laboratory (cath lab) because her condition was not considered acute enough to call someone in at the weekend.
Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora has stood by its decision not to treat Mrs Weepers in the cath lab — where treatments such as the insertion of stents and pacemakers are done — that weekend.
The Weepers family, who believe the damage to her heart caused during that incident might have been avoided had she been treated at the cath lab, is now working hard to try to prevent others from having to go through the same thing.
They want Dunedin Hospital to have a fulltime operational lab, instead of being closed at the weekend to all but acute cases.
Mr Weepers now stands outside Dunedin Hospital at the weekends, protesting the weekend closure of the cath lab to everyone not assessed as in need of urgent care.
Just because it's a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, it shouldn't matter — it should be open for anyone who needs it," he said on a recent weekend.
Before she passed away, she said to me ... she wanted to make some noise about what happened here," Mr Weepers said.
I'm out here really, to make sure she's remembered."
He has also started a petition urging the government to fund the Dunedin Hospital to run a fulltime operational cath lab.
His wife was originally diagnosed with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (Scad) in March 2012, after going to Dunedin Hospital in the evening with heart attack symptoms, Mr Weepers said.
She was transferred straight to the cath lab where she received an angiogram and preventive surgery.
Ten years later, on May 13, 2022 — a Friday night — Mrs Weepers went to the Dunedin Hospital at 11pm where she was diagnosed with symptoms of a heart attack", he said.
It was written in her file that Mrs Weepers had Scad, but it was decided the on-call cardiologist at the time would not be called in.
... she needed care, but they would not open the lab, because it was the weekend," Mr Weepers said.
He recalled being told his wife would need to wait until Monday and that she was fourth on the priority list to be seen.
She stayed in hospital but had a heart attack at 2am on Monday, Mr Weepers said.
She was resuscitated, transferred to ICU and later had an angiogram and curative cardiac surgery.
However, her heart suffered irreparable damage" and she was diagnosed with heart failure and had a significant reduction in heart function, Mr Weepers said.
She was deemed too high risk and was declined cardiac surgery in New Zealand.
In May 2023, the couple flew to Adelaide for cardiac surgery; however, when there, doctors advised her she needed a full heart transplant and the plan was changed to fly to Sydney for the surgery as soon as possible.
On May 15, 2023, she was due to fly to Sydney. At 2am she had an unexpected suspected ventricular fibrillation and died despite resuscitation efforts, he said.
Since her death, Mrs Weepers' family have started Āwhinatia — the Sheralyn Tipene-Weepers Charitable Trust, in order to change the healthcare experience for Māori and other under-represented communities through early intervention, health education, advocacy and systemic change.
Health New Zealand southern group director of operations Craig Ashton said HNZ's ongoing thoughts were with Mrs Weepers' whānau and he acknowledged the distress and impact losing a loved one had.
He said HNZ had completed a thorough internal review of the case and was satisfied with the assessment and treatment provided to Mrs Weepers.
We have communicated extensively with the family."
He said the cath lab at Dunedin Hospital was open 24/7, during weekends and after hours.
All patients are clinically assessed and have access to the cath lab for any acute or clinically urgent situations," he said.
laine.priestley@odt.co.nz
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
13 hours ago
- Scoop
National Call To Action: Parliamentary Breakfast On Perinatal Mental Health
Sadly suicide is the leading cause of maternal deaths in Aotearoa! Every year there are over 60,000 births in Aotearoa. 30% of parents and their wider families and whānau will be affected by anxiety or depression due to pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenting. There is evidence that this number is higher due to under-reporting so this sits more realistically around 50% of mothers, fathers, and birthing parents. The health system continues to fail babies of Māori, Pacific, and Indian mothers, mothers aged under 20 years and those living in areas of high deprivation or rural isolated areas, all of whom experience worse perinatal outcomes. In 2020, 183 women committed suicide in Aotearoa, of them, 157 were Māori. Māori and Pasifika maternal death rates still remain higher than any other ethnicity. To address these terrible statistic Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Aotearoa (PADA) is holding a National Call to Action: Hosted by Minister Matt Doocey on Thursday 31st July 2025. This pivotal event aims to bring together government leaders, healthcare professionals, community organisations, lived experience whānau, and mental health advocates in a united push to transform maternal mental health care in Aotearoa. At the core of this gathering is a shared commitment to build a lasting partnership between government and community—one that delivers real, measurable improvements in perinatal mental health services and outcomes across the country. Event Objectives The National Call to Action seeks to: Shine a spotlight on the ongoing barriers to early screening, diagnosis, and intervention Share a bold and compassionate vision for a functional, inclusive perinatal mental health system Amplify the voice and impact of lives experience whanau that is where the real connection point lies Establish a foundation for enduring collaboration between policymakers, communities, and frontline providers More than just a policy briefing, this event will offer attendees an interactive journey that immerses them in the lived experience of perinatal mental distress. This powerful and emotive installation aims to deepen understanding of the urgent need for systemic change—and the frustration and isolation faced by so many parents seeking help. Join the Movement We invite media, policymakers, health professionals, and community leaders to stand with us—to listen, to learn, and to lead meaningful reform for whānau across Aotearoa. We would love to have media in the room to hold our government officials accountable. If you or anyone you know would like to purchase a ticket to attend please visit our website Let this be the turning point. Let this be the beginning of real change.
Scoop
13 hours ago
- Scoop
Pātea: A World-First Māori Gambling Harm Digital Platform Launches Across Aotearoa
Aotearoa is leading the world in gambling harm innovation with the launch of Pātea - a groundbreaking digital platform designed by Māori, for Māori, to help free whānau from the burdens of gambling harm. Pātea, meaning to be free or lifted of burden, is an indigenously designed, built, and operated digital platform, the first of its kind globally. It was co-designed with whānau who have lived experience of gambling harm, ensuring every part of the app feels supportive, culturally grounded, and whānau friendly. Morris Pita, CEO of the Māori-owned and operated software firm Tai Pari Mōhio Ltd, is excited by the impact of digital technology as a tool to reduce gambling harm. "It has been an incredible experience for our tech and data science team to take their unique blend of technical and cultural skills, and use these to build a state-of-the-art cloud platform and application - deploying agentic AI to deliver 24/7 online support to whānau suffering from the impact of gambling harm." With the rapid rise of online gambling and digital casinos, whānau are being targeted like never before. Māori communities, already disproportionately affected by gambling harm, are particularly at risk. "We see the harm gambling has every day in our communities," says Jason Alexander, Chief Operating Officer at Hāpai Te Hauora. "The environment is changing fast, and we need new tools that meet whānau where they're at. Pātea is one of those tools. A safe, judgement free space to pause, reflect, and find support." Pātea was created by three Māori-led organisations - Hāpai Te Hauora, Whare Tiaki Hauora, and Tai Pari Mōhio - combining over 60 years of expertise in public health, mental health, digital innovation, and whānau-led service design. Pātea offers features like: 24/7 generative AI chatbot - providing instant, culturally safe support Online counselling sessions - available for gamblers and their whānau Whānau testimonial videos - real voices sharing hope and strategies Self and whānau assessment tools - to identify when help is needed Links to local services and app-blocking tools Accessible, easy-to-read information on gambling harm "This isn't just another platform. It's a digital extension of kaupapa Māori care, designed with the people we serve, not just for them," says Alexander.
Otago Daily Times
21 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Lab should be open seven days: widower
A grieving widower is vowing to continue a campaign to improve access to the Dunedin cardiac cath lab after his wife's death. Sheralyn Weepers, a te reo Māori teacher at Bayfield High School, died in 2023 on the day she was due to fly to Sydney for a life-saving heart transplant. She was 48. Her husband, Sam, said her death came a year after she had to be resuscitated at Dunedin Hospital when she had a heart attack on a Monday morning. She had been in the hospital over the weekend with heart pain but had not been treated in the catheterisation laboratory (cath lab) because her condition was not considered acute enough to call someone in at the weekend. Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora has stood by its decision not to treat Mrs Weepers in the cath lab — where treatments such as the insertion of stents and pacemakers are done — that weekend. The Weepers family, who believe the damage to her heart caused during that incident might have been avoided had she been treated at the cath lab, is now working hard to try to prevent others from having to go through the same thing. They want Dunedin Hospital to have a fulltime operational lab, instead of being closed at the weekend to all but acute cases. Mr Weepers now stands outside Dunedin Hospital at the weekends, protesting the weekend closure of the cath lab to everyone not assessed as in need of urgent care. Just because it's a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, it shouldn't matter — it should be open for anyone who needs it," he said on a recent weekend. Before she passed away, she said to me ... she wanted to make some noise about what happened here," Mr Weepers said. I'm out here really, to make sure she's remembered." He has also started a petition urging the government to fund the Dunedin Hospital to run a fulltime operational cath lab. His wife was originally diagnosed with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (Scad) in March 2012, after going to Dunedin Hospital in the evening with heart attack symptoms, Mr Weepers said. She was transferred straight to the cath lab where she received an angiogram and preventive surgery. Ten years later, on May 13, 2022 — a Friday night — Mrs Weepers went to the Dunedin Hospital at 11pm where she was diagnosed with symptoms of a heart attack", he said. It was written in her file that Mrs Weepers had Scad, but it was decided the on-call cardiologist at the time would not be called in. ... she needed care, but they would not open the lab, because it was the weekend," Mr Weepers said. He recalled being told his wife would need to wait until Monday and that she was fourth on the priority list to be seen. She stayed in hospital but had a heart attack at 2am on Monday, Mr Weepers said. She was resuscitated, transferred to ICU and later had an angiogram and curative cardiac surgery. However, her heart suffered irreparable damage" and she was diagnosed with heart failure and had a significant reduction in heart function, Mr Weepers said. She was deemed too high risk and was declined cardiac surgery in New Zealand. In May 2023, the couple flew to Adelaide for cardiac surgery; however, when there, doctors advised her she needed a full heart transplant and the plan was changed to fly to Sydney for the surgery as soon as possible. On May 15, 2023, she was due to fly to Sydney. At 2am she had an unexpected suspected ventricular fibrillation and died despite resuscitation efforts, he said. Since her death, Mrs Weepers' family have started Āwhinatia — the Sheralyn Tipene-Weepers Charitable Trust, in order to change the healthcare experience for Māori and other under-represented communities through early intervention, health education, advocacy and systemic change. Health New Zealand southern group director of operations Craig Ashton said HNZ's ongoing thoughts were with Mrs Weepers' whānau and he acknowledged the distress and impact losing a loved one had. He said HNZ had completed a thorough internal review of the case and was satisfied with the assessment and treatment provided to Mrs Weepers. We have communicated extensively with the family." He said the cath lab at Dunedin Hospital was open 24/7, during weekends and after hours. All patients are clinically assessed and have access to the cath lab for any acute or clinically urgent situations," he said.
