The Southern District Health Board has reportedly apologised to the family of a patient who died after information on a mass on her lung went missing.

A report by the Health and Disability Commissioner said the woman went to a Southern DHB hospital emergency department with a cough and chest tightness, and was given a chest x-ray.

Five days later a radiologist's report noted a significant nodule on the lung but the information was lost when a staff member went on leave. The woman was admitted to hospital 20 months later but died a short time after.

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