A private hospital in Shenzhen has been fined and ordered to suspend pre-hospital medical emergency services for six months, after a patient died due to an emergency delay last year, according to an official investigation report by local authorities on Wednesday.

On the morning of Aug 5, a 54-year-old woman surnamed Zhang called the 120 emergency number after she experienced sudden abdominal pain. The dispatch instructed that she be sent to Longhua District People's Hospital. However, the ambulance took her to Shenzhen Jian'an Hospital, the owner of the vehicle.

When Zhang was finally transferred to the correct hospital, she had already lost consciousness. Despite emergency surgery and other rescue efforts, she passed away in the afternoon from an aneurysm.

The story went viral, garnering wide attention and discussion. In response, Shenzhen's health commission and the health department in Longhua district conducted a comprehensive inspection. They found that Shenzhen Jian'an Hospital had violated the city's medical emergency regulations by not sending Zhang to the designated hospital.

According to the report, the district health bureau fined the hospital 76,000 yuan ($11,115), and the city health commission ordered the hospital to suspend pre-hospital medical emergency services for six months starting March 18.

The patient's family has filed a civil lawsuit regarding the delayed hospital rescue and untimely transfer. The local court has commissioned a judicial medical injury appraisal and will take further actions once it receives the results.

The city health commission has organized a comprehensive inspection of pre-hospital emergency medical network units throughout the city. Problems found during the inspection will lead to measures including ordering rectification, suspension, or termination of pre-hospital emergency medical services, depending on the situation.

Meanwhile, the Shenzhen emergency center is reviewing and optimizing its emergency dispatch system to improve supervision.