Health Minister Apologises for Email Mix-Up Amid Ramping Concerns
South Australia’s Health Minister, Chris Picton, has issued an unreserved apology following the unauthorised release of an email to the media. The government initially claimed the email was from the partner of an Adelaide cancer patient who had recently voiced concerns about ambulance ramping. However, it later emerged that the email was, in fact, sent by a different individual sharing the same name.
Premier Peter Malinauskas has publicly backed Minister Picton, stating that a resignation is not warranted. Nevertheless, the Premier acknowledged that the failure to conduct thorough checks before releasing the sensitive correspondence was “not good enough.”
The controversy began when Bronwen Paterson, an Adelaide mother, publicly shared the poignant story of her late husband, Stephen James King, who passed away in 2025. Ms Paterson recounted how her husband, who was battling terminal cancer, spent crucial hours of his final day awaiting an ambulance and then being treated while on a stretcher in an ambulance.
In response to Ms Paterson’s heartfelt account, Minister Picton’s office distributed an email to the press, asserting it originated from her late partner. This assertion was subsequently retracted by the government, which admitted an error had been made and the email was from an unrelated Stephen King.
“A very incorrect assumption was made that that was from Ms Paterson’s partner, which it clearly wasn’t,” Minister Picton stated in a radio interview.
Over the weekend, Premier Malinauskas refuted claims by the state opposition that the government’s release of the email was an attempt to undermine Ms Paterson’s valid concerns about the state’s healthcare system.
“Even if it was the right Stephen King, they do not have the right to circulate this sort of information,” the opposition’s health spokesperson, Heidi Girolamo, told ABC Radio Adelaide, highlighting the privacy implications.
Premier Malinauskas firmly rejected any suggestion that Minister Picton should step down. “I wouldn’t accept it even if he had [offered his resignation],” the Premier commented. He confirmed he had discussed the matter with Minister Picton, stating, “The minister was not accurate by virtue of the fact that there were two people of the same name … and that’s not good enough.” The Premier added, “He should have double-checked if there were two people of the same name. He didn’t, and he’s been candid about that.”
Minister Picton faced questions regarding the appropriateness of releasing patient emails without explicit consent. He denied that the government was politicising a person’s death but conceded the email’s release was an error for which he takes “full responsibility.”
“I’m very sorry to Ms Paterson and anyone else who was offended,” he expressed. “I completely apologise to Ms Paterson for this, and I do so unreservedly. I’m very sorry for any additional issues or emotional impacts that this has had on her.” Minister Picton noted that he managed to obtain Ms Paterson’s contact details “over the weekend” after the email was made public and has since spoken with her.
Opposition Slams Email Release as “Appalling”
The opposition has strongly criticised the handling of the email, with Ms Girolamo labelling the situation “absolutely appalling.” She questioned whether the unauthorised release of emails to the media without consent is a common practice within the department, particularly given that names like “Stephen King” are not exceptionally rare. “The checks should have been done,” she insisted.
Ms Girolamo also dismissed the government’s assertion that the email’s release was not intended to discredit Ms Paterson. “They need to look into the processes further and make sure that this doesn’t happen again,” she urged, emphasising the need for improved departmental procedures.
Minister Picton acknowledged that the email should not have been released, even if it had originated from Ms Paterson’s late husband. “Even if it was the correct person and it was the correct email, in hindsight I believe we’ve made a mistake in providing that,” he admitted.
The Minister revealed he has attempted to contact the Stephen King who originally sent the email. “I’ve certainly sent an email personally to the account that we have. I don’t have any other contact details,” he stated. He clarified that the released email did not contain confidential patient details but rather “the sort of thing that would be released under FOI.” He elaborated, “This isn’t a medical record, this isn’t medical information, this was an email that was sent, praising health services, to the premier and then forwarded to my office.”
Premier Malinauskas indicated that an internal review of the matter is unnecessary, as “we know exactly what’s occurred here and how it occurred.” When questioned about identifying the specific staff member responsible for the initial discovery and forwarding of the email, the Premier replied “no,” adding that if the email was seen by anyone, it would have been a “very low level correspondence public servant who just looks at an email and transfers it from one person to the next.”
The incident highlights the critical importance of robust data handling and verification processes within government departments, particularly when dealing with sensitive personal information and public health concerns. The debate around ambulance ramping and the pressures on the healthcare system remains a significant issue for South Australians.
