Arabic version: تحقيق قضائي يبحث رعاية كيت مانلي في مستشفى ألبوري

According to ABC News, a coronial inquest has begun into the care provided to Kate Manley, 46, before her death at Albury Base Hospital in November 2022. Manley was an involuntary patient admitted to Nolan House, Albury Wodonga Health’s mental acute psychiatric ward, on November 11. She died around 2am on November 16 from a suspected pulmonary embolism.

Counsel assisting Patrick Rooney told Coroner Rebecca Hosking that Manley had been mentally unwell and not sleeping after a GP appointment on November 9. She was admitted to hospital, reviewed medically and later transferred to Nolan House, where she was diagnosed with catatonia. The court heard she continued to be assessed in the following days and often did not respond to doctors’ questions.

Evidence heard on the first day included concerns that Manley had an elevated temperature and remained mute and non-responsive. Doctors noted she had neck pain and had eaten minimal food for at least two days before her death. She was transferred to a medical ward later that night and given intravenous fluids. The court heard she had not been fitted with stockings used to treat deep vein thrombosis and had no blood-clot diagnosis during her stay.

Registered nurse Andrea Friswell said there were no physical concerns when Manley arrived at Nolan House and that she was not complaining of pain. The inquest also heard Albury Wodonga Health policy requires a venous thromboembolism risk assessment within six hours of admission to a ward. Friswell said an assessment tool was introduced at Nolan House after Manley’s death and is now required for all patients.

The inquest will examine whether Manley received adequate care and treatment, whether her mental health diagnosis was appropriate, and whether she was monitored and treated under relevant policies and guidelines. Locum consultant psychiatrist Tshepo Ntokwane said he was concerned to some degree that no pathology tests had been completed before her transfer to Nolan House, although he was content for her to remain there after assessing her. The hearing is set to continue for two weeks at Albury Court.