# Sydney hospital apologises for surgery referral email blunder

> Canterbury Hospital discovers 3,400 unread emails including 16 patient surgery referrals, some dating back to late 2025.
- Title: Sydney hospital apologises for surgery referral email blunder
- Summary: Canterbury Hospital discovers 3,400 unread emails including 16 patient surgery referrals, some dating back to late 2025. Sydney Local Health District…
- Keywords: sydney local health district, canterbury hospital, elective surgery, email blunder, patient referrals, waiting times, nsw health, news, politics, Sydney, hospital, apologises
- Source: Abc — https://abc.net.au/news/2026-10-18/nsw-sydney-hospital-canterbury-apology-surgery-referrals/107280434
- Published: 2026-10-18T00:04:49+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: sydney local health district, canterbury hospital, elective surgery, email blunder, patient referrals, waiting times, nsw health, news, politics
## Hospital discovers thousands of unread emails
Sydney Local Health District found about three thousand four hundred unread emails in an inbox at Canterbury Hospital, including sixteen patient surgery referrals dating back to late twenty twenty-five.
## Referrals breached urgent waiting time standards
Four patients were classified as Category One, requiring surgery within thirty days. Twelve others were Category Two, requiring surgery within ninety days. All had their waiting times breached.
## Medical association warns of serious health risks
Australian Medical Association NSW president Fred Betros said the delay posed significant risk to Category One patients. Some patients with cancer or heart disease needing bypass surgery could face serious consequences.

> They're people who could have, or do have cancers, they're people who have heart disease and they need a bypass.
## Hospital launches review and reschedules surgeries
Sydney Local Health District chief executive Deborah Willcox said the review would examine each patient's situation separately. All affected patients are being contacted to have surgeries rescheduled urgently.

> The review is being undertaken and we'll look to each patient's situation separately and work through the issues carefully.
## Opposition demands independent investigation
Shadow Minister for South-west Sydney Mark Coure called for a full independent review with public findings. He demanded explanation of how the error occurred and whether other hospitals face the same problem.

> I'm calling today for a full and independent review with the findings to be made public.
## Key takeaway

Sydney Local Health District apologised after discovering 3,400 unread emails at Canterbury Hospital, including 16 elective surgery referrals that breached waiting time standards.