Kathleen Theresa Maslen pleaded guilty to public nuisance

Paramedics were forced to lock themselves in ambulances and a doctor rushed to block a scissors tray as a patient on meth “lost the plot” in a Qld emergency department.

Kathleen Theresa Maslen pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs and public nuisance when she faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

A “code black” was called at Marybrough Hospital after a woman forced to wait for treatment created a “substantial” disturbance, including having to be blocked from moving towards a trolley with scissors on top of it.

Kathleen Theresa Maslen pleaded guilty in Maryborough Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday to possessing dangerous drugs and public nuisance.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Nick Jones said Maslen had been brought to Maryborough Hospital by ambulance.

When she got there, she was assessed and told she would need to wait for treatment, Snr Const. Jones said.

A wheelchair was brought to assist Maslen to the waiting room, but she became agitated and aggressive, causing the emergency department to be closed down under a “code black”, Snr Const. Jones said.

The department was busy at the time, with many waiting patients, the court heard.

Both paramedics and doctors tried to de-escalate the situation to no avail, with Maslen standing up, gesturing towards staff.

As a doctor ushered her towards the exit door, she was seen to move towards an equipment trolley with a number of scissors on it and the doctor placed himself between Maslen and the trolley, Snr Const. Jones said.

The doctor then corralled Maslen towards the doors and towards the ambulance bay.

By 4pm Maslen was locked outside, but she continued acting in an aggressive manner towards nearby paramedics, causing them to lock themselves in an ambulance and calling for urgent police assistance.

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Kathleen Theresa Maslen pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs and public nuisance when she faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Other ambulance crews were prevented from leaving the hospital building and attending calls, Snr Const. Jones said.

Police soon arrived and transported Maslen and took her to Maryborough Watchhouse.

Her behaviour was captured on CCTV footage, the court heard.

Snr Const. Jones said Maslen was searched at the watch-house and a small clipseal bag of meth was located.

Duty lawyer Warren Hunter said Maslen had gone to hospital with a matter she felt was urgent and she had a “view that she needed treatment.

“Then for some reason she lost the plot,” Mr Hunter said.

Her behaviour may also have triggered by her mental health struggles at the time, he said.

Mr Hunter said while she couldn’t undo what she’d done, Maslen was remorseful.

Magistrate John Milburn said Maslen had created a “substantial” disturbance at Maryborough Hospital, causing it to be locked down.

“A medical practitioner had to stand between you and a potential weapon,” he said.

“Your behaviours were completely unacceptable.”

Maslen had also been in possession of less than a gram of meth, Mr Milburn said.

He said Maslen had behaved selfishly and the triage process at hospitals had to be respected.

Mr Milburn said Maslen had a history of public nuisance offences.

Maslen was sentenced to nine months’ probation and convictions were recorded.