A Coroner's found a 50-year-old Gisborne woman wasn't an appropriate candidate for surgery - which contributed to her death

Janet Milner died at Waikato Hospital in 2021, four days after having bariatric surgery.

Coroner Bruce Hesketh found communication gaps created a lack of awareness of her significant chronic cardiac disease, which impacted her post-operative care.

He also found she wasn't transferred soon enough from Chelsea Private Hospital to Waikato ICU.

Hesketh recommends more detailed referral letters, and better record keeping by health professionals.