Family demands answers about corridor death

The family of a woman who died in the corridor of an overcrowded Royal Adelaide Hospital is calling on the Malinauskas Labor Government to establish an independent investigation into her death.

Helen Sargent, 64, passed away on October 11, 2025, after being placed near a kitchen with limited access to emergency equipment.

A hospital report compiled by staff, and provided to Mrs Sargent’s family under Freedom of Information, states the following:

• Mrs Sargent was placed in a “corridor” as an “overflow patient”
• Mrs Sargent had “no emergency bell”
• Staff had “nil access to suction”
• There was no electricity plug for the bed
• There was a “delay to oxygen administration” because a wall unit wasn’t available

Security footage obtained by Mrs Sargent’s family shows that she was unattended for more than an hour. A note left in the medical report by one hospital staff member said the “the system stinks”.

Despite the initial staff reports, SA Health officials said: “the patient’s death was unavoidable given the severity of the condition, and not related to their location in the hospital.” (The Advertiser, December 7, 2025)

State Liberal Leader Ashton Hurn says the Malinauskas Government must explain what’s being done to independently investigate Mrs Sargent’s death and whether overcrowding pressures played a role.

“My heart goes out to Helen’s family who had to learn she spent her final moments in the hallway of a hospital,” Mrs Hurn said.

“They deserve proper answers, and the public deserves to know how this could happen in our flagship hospital. Internal clinical reviews are simply not going to cut it – we need a full and independent investigation.”

Documents obtained by the State Liberals show the hospital was running a trial that involved moving patients out of ward beds and into an “alternate locations” during busy times.

“We would like to know whether that trial is continuing at the hospital and what’s being done to ensure patients receive appropriate care,” Mrs Hurn said.

Shadow Minister for Health and Wellbeing Jack Batty said Mrs Sargent’s case is a shocking example of the Malinauskas Government’s failure to deliver on its key health promises.

“A patient being left to die in a hospital corridor is about as disgraceful as it gets,” Mr Batty said.

“Let’s not forget, this was Premier who told South Australians to vote for him like their lives depended on it.

“Now we have this poor family wondering whether their mum died because the system was under pressure.”

Media Contact: Ben Avery 0439 955 254