Photo: RNZA woman recovering from a leg amputation in Hutt Hospital was repeatedly harassed by a male patient who touched her while she slept and watched while she was being washed. But the next day there was a "further incident" when the man entered the woman's room. It was not until another incident on day 11 that a security guard was posted outside the woman's room and she was moved to a bed further from the door. Her family told the commission the guard did not initially realise he was there to stop the male patient entering the room. Hospital criticisedDeputy Commissioner Carolyn Cooper said the hospital did not provide the woman with the safe environment she was entitled to.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 02, 2026 06:01 UTC