84-year-old patient's death at Waikato Hospital linked to muted alarm, inadequate nurse-to-patient ratios, and staffing shortages.

Waikato Hospital in New Zealand is under scrutiny after an 84-year-old patient died from a cardiac arrest, attributed to a muted alarm that went unnoticed. A coroner’s inquiry indicated that the alarm's inaudible setting may have delayed treatment, potentially preventing her death. The inquiry also noted inadequate nurse-to-patient ratios and called for improved alarm systems and staff training. Staffing shortages persist, highlighted by recent strikes among healthcare workers.