Internal reports on Ontario woman, 24, who died after hospital visit leave mother with questions

The mother of a 24-year-old woman who reportedly went to a hospital in St. Catharines, Ont., with back pain and died the next day says she has "more questions than answers" after seeing the results of two internal investigations into her daughter's death.

Francine Shimizu says her daughter, Heather Winterstein, went to the St. Catharines General Hospital's emergency department on Dec. 9 after feeling unwell and having severe back pain, according to her family.

She was reportedly sent home with Tylenol but was in excruciating pain the next day and called for an ambulance.

Her family says she fainted in the waiting room and they were told she died of a Strep A blood infection.

The hospital network — Niagara Health — and Niagara Emergency Medical Services (EMS) both conducted their own internal investigation into Winterstein's death.

Shimizu told CBC Hamilton she received the findings about a week ago. She didn't share the specifics on the advice of her lawyer but said the two reports were "inconsistent" with each other. 

"It was quite upsetting to see what they found and also the fact that they were inconsistent. I was left with more questions than answers," Shimizu said.

"I feel like I'm reliving it all over again ... none of that will bring Heather back."

Shimizu, who has ties to Six Nations of the Grand River, also said while she wasn't surprised by what she read, she feels the hospital network and EMS are taking the situation seriously.

Lynn Guerriero, Niagara Health's president and CEO, confirmed in a statement to CBC Hamilton Niagara Health's internal investigation is complete. The findings won't be public to maintain Winterstein's privacy, she said.

Guerriero said the review, which took place in January and February, followed a structured process used by all Ontario hospitals and involved Niagara Health Emergency Department and intensive care unit program staff, physicians, leadership, and the Niagara Health Quality of Care Reflective Review Committee.

"Our internal review identified some opportunities for improvement to help us provide the best possible care for everyone, particularly during times of overcapacity and health system pressures," she said.

Guerriero didn't share the recommendations but said Niagara Health is now reviewing how its emergency department works, and how it identifies and supports patients from equity-seeking groups.

She also said there's now a dedicated social worker for the emergency department to support non-medical needs and Niagara Health is piloting a technician role in the department who observe and reassess patients in the waiting room and help those who come in via ambulance. Without the details of the report, it is unclear exactly how Winterstein's case may have prompted these changes.