Surgery referrals missed in Sydney hospital email blunder

In short: 

Sydney Local Health District has issued an apology after discovering 3,400 emails were found unchecked in an inbox. 

Among the unread emails were 16 patient referrals, with some dating back to late 2025. 

Four of those patients were recommended surgery within 30 days while 12 others fell within the 90-day window. 

A Sydney health district has apologised to patients after an inbox containing more than 3,000 unread emails, including elective surgery referrals, went unchecked at Canterbury Hospital.

The Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) launched a review after discovering the inbox held about 3,400 emails, including 16 patient referrals, with some dating back to late 2025.

Four of those patients were classified as Category One, meaning surgery is recommended within 30 days.

Twelve were classed as Category Two, meaning surgery is recommended within 90 days.

SLHD said it launched a review as soon as the problem was identified and that all affected patients were being contacted to have their surgeries rescheduled.

"The review is being undertaken and we'll look to each patient's situation separately and work through the issues carefully," SLHD chief executive Deborah Willcox said.

AMA warns of risk to patients

NSW president of the Australian Medical Association Fred Betros said the delay posed a significant risk to the health of Category One patients.

"They're people who could have, or do have cancers, they're people who have heart disease and they need a bypass,"

he said.

"So those patients who have breached their waiting times, some of them will be okay, but the problem is, some won't."

An SLHD spokesperson said treating surgeons had been contacted to ensure each patient received an appropriate clinical review and prioritisation, and that admission dates had been urgently allocated to prevent further delays.

"These include clearer staff accountabilities, strengthened governance arrangements, enhanced monitoring processes and increased executive oversight of admissions workflows," the spokesperson said.

Opposition calls for independent review

Shadow Minister for South-west Sydney Mark Coure said the error was unacceptable.

"I'm calling today for today a full and independent review with the findings to be made public," he said.

"The health minister needs to explain how this happened, why wasn't it picked up sooner and whether other hospitals are in the same position."

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park has been contacted for comment.

The incident comes as NSW Health is reportedly offering voluntary redundancies to non-frontline staff across the state as part of a restructure.