Health authorities have apologised after an Adelaide woman was denied a final visit to her grandmother, who died in hospital over the weekend.
Paige Carter posted an emotional video on social media on Thursday, begging for an exemption to the COVID-prompted restrictions that had stopped her family from seeing the 95-year-old.
Ms Carter's grandmother was admitted to hospital at the start of the month where she tested positive for COVID-19.
She was transferred to a rehabilitation facility after being cleared of her infection but she was taken back to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) on Thursday after becoming unwell.
In the video, Ms Carter desperately pleaded with health authorities and the SA Premier, saying her grandmother, who was also living with dementia, was left feeling like "we've abandoned her".
In a subsequent post on Instagram, Ms Carter confirmed her grandmother had died in hospital before her family could visit.
Ms Carter said she was "completely heartbroken".
"I don't know how to function knowing I'll never see my nana again," she said.
"All I can think about is that she spent the last month of her life alone.
"I will feel the utmost grief, pain and guilt for the rest of my life."
In a statement, the Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN) — the branch of SA Health responsible for the QEH — said it wished to convey its "sincerest condolences to Ms Carter and her family for their loss".
"We always do everything we can to ensure patients receive the best possible care in the absence of family and loved ones," a CALHN spokesperson said.
"Visitors are allowed across all our hospital sites for compassionate reasons and we encourage our patients, their family or carers to speak with our staff to arrange a visit.
The spokesperson acknowledged the last few months had been challenging for patients and families.
"We will work with our team to ensure that we are proactive in granting compassionate or wellbeing visits for patients across all CALHN sites," the spokesperson said.
SA Premier Steven Marshall also expressed his "sincere, sincere condolences" to Ms Carter and her family.
"This is a heartbreaking story and it's another one of the human tragedies that have been caused by the coronavirus," he told ABC Radio Adelaide.
"My understanding is that SA Health did reach out to the family on Friday but unfortunately a visit wasn't effected and sadly the patient passed away on Saturday morning."
Mr Marshall said it was "especially" important that the spread of coronavirus in vulnerable settings was kept under control.
"We don't, as politicians, interfere with clinical decisions," he said.
"Probably one of the most worrying things at the moment for hospitals and aged care facilities is infection control."
