Kevin Farr inquest: Robina Hospital unit saw ‘high number’ of violent episodes before fatal attack
A hospital unit on the Gold Coast that housed complex cases saw a “high number” of violent episodes in the lead-up to a retired policeman being bashed to death by a fellow patient, a court has heard.
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A hospital unit on the Gold Coast that housed patients with complex needs such as dementia saw a “high number” of violent episodes in the lead-up to a retired policeman being bashed to death by a fellow patient, a court has been told.
Kevin Farr, a respected policeman aged in his sixties, died on October 9, 2023, a day after being assaulted by Robert Hunter, 77, at Robina Hospital’s 20-bed Complex Management Unit (CMU).
A pre-inquest hearing in advance of an expected three-day coronial inquest later this year into Mr Farr’s death occurred at the Coroners Court, sitting at Southport Magistrates Court, on Tuesday.
Counsel assisting the coroner, Bernhard Berger, told the court Mr Farr suffered from cortical dementia.
He was admitted to Gold Coast University Hospital in April 2023 after experiencing increased confusion, before being transferred to the Robina CMU, where it was intended a discharge plan would be crafted to allow Mr Farr to live in the community with 24/7 support under an NDIS plan.
The CMU, established in 2021, was for “patients who no longer required acute medical intervention but who required intensive management during discharge,” Mr Berger said.
Mr Hunter, who was housed in a neighbouring room to Mr Farr, exhibited behaviours of concern such as “wandering and pacing, and physical aggression, including striking out and punching others with significant force”.
“Records will reveal that there were a high number of incidents at the [CMU] involving patients with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia,” Mr Berger said.
“Records will show that Mr Farr and Mr Hunter were both involved in the number of these incidents.”
On October 8, 2023, Mr Hunter was seated in a corridor outside Mr Farr’s room alongside an assistant in nursing (AIN) who had been allocated to the older man, when Mr Hunter entered Mr Farr’s room, shutting the door behind him and preventing the AIN access.
He then punched Mr Farr once in the face, knocking him to the ground, Mr Berger said.
He may have punched Mr Farr again on the ground.
After the AIN gained access to the room she witnessed a bloodied Mr Farr on the floor, with Mr Hunter holding his hand as though it was injured.
Mr Farr passed away the next day.
Mr Berger said issues to be canvassed at the inquest include the adequacy of the CMU to appropriately manage dementia patients, the appropriateness and adequacy of Mr Hunter’s risk assessments, and whether any failure to provide appropriate care and treatment at CMU contributed to Mr Farr’s death.
An internal health service investigation in the wake of Mr Farr’s death recommended the establishment of a specialised unit for dementia patients on the Gold Coast.
The inquest was set down for September 8–10.
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