A Christchurch medical centre's been asked to apologise to the family of a young patient - hospitalised for months

The Health and Disability Commission has released its report on the 2019 incident at the Palms Medical Centre.

Commissioner Anthony Hill says the girl saw a doctor four times one month with fevers and sore joints.

But he says when X-rays didn't help, staff didn't look into other potential causes.

The girl ended up on bed-rest in hospital with acute rheumatic fever.

Hill acknowledges her symptoms were unusual - but says the Palms should've kept investigating - especially when her symptoms worsened.