Patient death in Poznan: Woman died after nearly two days waiting for hospitalisation

Investigation into circumstances of death

An investigation into the causes of the death of 67-year-old Maria has been launched in Poznan, Poland. The patient suffered from an oncological disease. According to data published by the outlet Gazeta Wyborcza, the woman spent over 46 hours in the emergency department of the Voivodeska Hospital, waiting for hospitalisation. After being transferred to the internal medicine department, her condition was critical, and Maria died shortly afterwards.

Circumstances of hospital admission

On 22 July 2026, Maria arrived at the medical facility. She exhibited symptoms of severe dehydration, high fever, rapid pulse, nausea, and gastrointestinal distress. Relatives suspected it might be a gastrointestinal infection. During initial triage, medical staff assigned the patient ESI category 3. This classification indicates that a person requires urgent medical care, but their condition is not considered an immediate threat to life.

Conditions in the emergency department

As noted by the outlet, the woman was placed in a small room. According to relatives, the conditions there were inadequate: ventilation was not working, and there was no bedside table for water or a call button for medical staff. Over nearly two days, Maria's condition deteriorated rapidly. She began to experience delirium, her lips turned blue, her limbs became cold, and her pulse was extremely high. The family claims that medical staff did not take appropriate measures to provide care to the patient.

Reaction from family and official bodies

On 24 July, Maria's son filed complaints with the National Health Fund of Poland (NFZ), the voivodeship administration, and the Patient's Ombudsman (RPP). On the same day, the woman was finally transferred to the internal medicine department, but she could not be saved.

The circumstances of the death are being investigated in parallel by the RPP and the prosecutor's office. Investigators must review medical documentation and assess the actions of the staff. RPP representatives emphasise that prolonged stays of patients in the emergency department are unacceptable. However, it is premature to claim that the delay in hospitalisation directly led to the woman's death until the investigation is completed.

The management of the Voivodeska Hospital confirmed that the patient spent 46 hours in the emergency department. The facility is currently preparing official explanations for the bodies conducting the investigation. The deceased's family insists on a full investigation into the quality of medical care provided and the conditions in which the seriously ill woman spent her final days.