Family welcomes review into death of Adelaide woman left in hospital corridor

The family of a patient who died after being left in a hospital corridor has welcomed the South Australian government's call for an independent, external review into her death.

Hospital footage obtained by the family showed 64-year-old Helen Sargent being left unattended for more than an hour on a bed in a corridor at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in October 2025 before she died.

Three previous clinical reviews found Ms Sargent's death was not due to her receiving treatment in a corridor at the RAH.

But Ms Sargent's family and the state opposition have for months been calling for a deeper inquiry into the circumstances of her death.

SA Health Minister Blair Boyer said he suggested the review to Ms Sargent's family, because it was unclear how long a coroner investigation would take.

"I think they're owed answers," he said.

"We need to find out if the early clinical reviews that said it wasn't because of her placement in the corridor were correct, or whether that wasn't the case and we need to take further action."

Mr Boyer did not name who would conduct the review, but said they were independent of the SA Health and the hospital.

He said he would like the review to begin within six months.

Opposition leader Ashton Hurn said she hoped the review would inform government policy.

"This is something that the government should've acted upon, on day one," Ms Hurn said.

"They've taken months, and months and months to act, and certainly we welcome the fact there is going to be an independent investigation."

Unions' stark health warning

The review followed calls from the health worker unions for the SA government to take action amid increased pressures in public hospitals.

In August, the nurses' union asked the state government to intervene and end the use of "corridor care" at SA hospitals.

This week, the Ambulance Employees Association (AEA) SA branch also released its formal position on ramping, labelling it "preventable, dangerous and unacceptable".

"Our members see the consequences of ramping every day," AEA SA general secretary Paul Ekkelboom said.

"They [Paramedics] see patients waiting longer for ambulances, crews unable to return to the community and patients remaining outside hospitals when they should be receiving definitive care.

"Ramping is a policy choice. It must not be accepted as an inevitable part of South Australia's health system."