Public health teams having more background information could've made a difference in the deaths of two Covid patients.

An independent review panel found the deaths earlier this month were potentially preventable.

The first was a person living in Manukau and the second in Mount Eden.

Both were living alone at the time.

Northern Region Health Coordination Centre lead Margie Apa told Heather du Plessis-Allan the cases were delegated to teams outside the region and didn't have access to underlying health issues.

“So as public health units don’t have access to our regional clinical system, so they couldn't go in and have a look.”

LISTEN ABOVE