A Whangārei mother is seeking answers nearly two months after her 15-month-old son underwent emergency bowel surgery at Starship Children’s Hospital in Auckland, following what she says was a delayed diagnosis at Whangārei Hospital. The toddler required removal of approximately 20 centimeters of damaged bowel after an intestinal obstruction was identified.
The family’s ordeal began on May 10 when Harpreet “Harman” Brar and her husband, Lucky Sahota, brought their son to Whangārei Hospital’s emergency department after he experienced repeated vomiting. Initially admitted for observation and blood tests, doctors reportedly told the family the results were unremarkable and attributed the symptoms to a stomach bug. Over the following day, the child’s condition worsened: he became lethargic, stopped passing bowel motions, could not retain fluids, and developed a swollen, firm abdomen.
Concerned by her son’s deterioration, Brar sought advice from a nurse relative in Sydney who suspected an abdominal obstruction or twisted bowel and recommended requesting further imaging, such as an ultrasound. Despite Brar’s repeated requests for additional investigations, hospital staff initially maintained their assessment of a likely gastroenteritis. Brar described pleading for action, expressing that her son’s condition was more serious than acknowledged.
By the morning of May 12, nearly 48 hours after admission, Brar demanded the clinicians take further steps. Within hours, the child was airlifted to Starship Children’s Hospital, where medical staff promptly recognized the severity of his condition. Following surgery, the child faces adjustments associated with having a shortened bowel and potential long-term complications.
Health New Zealand Te Tai Tokerau issued a formal apology to the family in late June, acknowledging communication failures and delays in escalating the child’s care. A review involving paediatric and surgical teams at Whangārei Hospital and specialists at Starship concluded that concerns were not elevated promptly to senior decision-makers and that consultant-to-consultant discussions between the hospitals were not conducted at appropriate stages. The review prompted changes to escalation procedures, communication protocols, interhospital referral pathways, and staff education.
Despite these acknowledgments, Brar expressed dissatisfaction with the response, stating that a written apology fell short of full accountability. She also said that an in-person meeting with involved clinicians, which she views as crucial to understanding and addressing the situation, was only recently offered and cannot take place until the end of July due to staff absence. Brar indicated she would await the outcome of that meeting before deciding whether to escalate her complaint to the Health and Disability Commissioner.
Health New Zealand Te Tai Tokerau’s group director of operations, Alex Pimm, confirmed the family had received a detailed written response and expressed willingness to meet with Brar to address any remaining concerns. Meanwhile, Brar hopes sharing her experience publicly will prevent similar situations affecting other families.