Doomadgee RHD inquest in Cairns hears of communication breakdowns as families express pain

A coronial inquest has heard of a litany of communication breakdowns that may have contributed to the deaths of three women. Outside the court, the families quietly share their pain.

HEADS of various health bodies are giving evidence at a coronial inquest into the deaths of three women in remote northwest Doomadgee – and the families of the women are quietly hopeful the inquest will bring change.

Northern Coroner Nerida Wilson is heading an inquiry into the deaths of Doomadgee residents Betty, 18, Ms Sandy, 37, and Kaya, 17, who all died as a consequence of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) – a condition 75 times more likely to afflict Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people than the rest of the population.

Kaya was sent to hospitals in Burketown, Alice Springs, Mt Isa, Townsville and finally to Brisbane, where she ultimately failed to recover from heart surgery to try to replace a mechanical heart valve.

Her parents Weenie and Terence George maintain she should have been flown from Doomadgee earlier, when swollen and painful legs heralded serious heart problems.

But they said there were issues over her Covid status – although she had recently been in hospital and had been tested - and she was given Panadol for her leg pain.

Asked if they are angry with apparent health system failures, Mr and Mrs George and their friend Matthew Ned, whose sister Betty died, hesitate.

They are not angry.

“We feel so hurt,” Mrs George said.

Mr Ned said the whole community was sad.

“The hurt will go on until we die, we lost our loved ones,” he said.

“It’s a sad situation, no one knows what we are going through.”

Doomadgee women Olive Roberts, Evelyn Ned, and Paula and Denise Booth, whose sister Betty died as a consequence of rheumatic heart disease and is one of three women whose deaths are subject to a coronial inquest, pictured with youngster Joel Ned-Anderson outside Cairns courthouse. Picture: Bronwyn Farr.

He said male and female health liaison officers were desperately needed to help communicate with patients and their families and medical professionals.

“We want to know what’s happening with our loved ones … we’re filling up the graves,” Mr Ned said.

“We need someone who can explain, someone who can stand up for our rights.

“We need to be introduced to the doctors and nurses and they need to interact with our community.”

Mr George said the transient nature of health professionals in the township didn’t help.

“Doctors are there for one week, and they’re gone,” he said.

Mr Ned said the community needed health staff who would stay.

“We don’t need FIFO, we need doctors to stay for six or seven months,” he said.

Originally published as Doomadgee RHD inquest in Cairns hears of communication breakdowns as families express pain