Review into death of veteran Steven Angus releases findings

The president of Queensland’s Police Union has called for the resignation of Townsville Hospital and Health Service’s chief executive after an internal report found the hospital did nothing wrong in relation to the death of veteran Steven Angus.

Police at the scene of a fatal shooting in Townsville on April 21.

The president of Queensland’s Police Union has called for the resignation of Townsville Hospital and Health Service’s chief executive after an internal report found it had done nothing wrong in relation to the death of veteran Steven Angus earlier this year.

Mr Angus, 52, was shot by police on April 21, hours after being released from hospital, and a day after officers had spent two hours negotiating with him in a siege situation in Kirwan.

When he surrendered the previous day, Mr Angus was taken to Townsville University Hospital – with an expectation he would get mental health care – but was then released without police being told of his discharge.

At the time Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers demanded a full clinical health review into the death of Mr Angus and demanded to know why he was released from hospital and why police were not told.

He also said Mr Angus would still be alive had he been given the appropriate care he needed in hospital and that police hadn’t finished their paperwork before the veteran was released.

On Friday, Townsville hospital’s own internal investigation into Mr Angus’s death found the health service did nothing wrong, triggering Mr Leavers’ call for the resignation of its chief executive, Kieran Keyes.

Police at the scene of a fatal shooting in Townsville on April 21.

In a statement issued on Friday, Mr Keyes said a comprehensive review by a panel of clinical experts, which included “external expertise”, found the hospital delivered appropriate care to the veteran and there were “no missed opportunities” that could have changed the outcome.

He didn’t list the panel make-up of clinical experts for the report and the hospital has refused to release its report, or Root Cause Analysis (RCA), but instead has referred it to the coroner.

“I can now share that following the RCA, the panel determined the clinical care delivered to Mr Angus on April 20 and 21 was appropriate,” Mr Keyes said in a statement.

“The panel also found that there were no opportunities missed throughout the course of his care that could have changed the outcome.

“It is for this reason, the panel has provided no recommendations in relation to the care of Mr Angus.”

The statement went on to say that while the panel found no problems with the hospital’s response to Mr Angus, the panel had found “five opportunities” to improve the broader mental crisis response for the hospital service.

However he did not outline what they were.

Linda Angus with her brother Steven Angus, who was shot by police in Townsville in April.

“These improvements will be considered in the context of future care by the health service and the Coroner,” Mr Keyes wrote.

“For this reason, I won’t be making any further comment.

“The care of a person with a mental illness is very complex and decisions are made in accordance with both the Mental Health Act 2016 and with a clinical assessment of the patient’s presenting symptoms and overall picture.

“In some emergency situations, a police or ambulance officer can make an emergency examination authority (EEA) under the Public Health Act 2005 to detain and transport a person to a public sector health service facility, like a hospital, for examination and, depending on the person’s needs, care and assessment will be provided.

“However, once clinically examined, if a person demonstrates capacity, is no immediate danger to themselves or others, and engages in appropriate follow-up care in the community, our clinicians cannot treat or admit somebody against their wishes.”

In response, Mr Leavers said it was unacceptable the review had taken months and it was bizarre the five points weren’t being released publicly.

“They failed him absolutely,” Mr Leavers said.

“They failed Steven Angus, they failed his family. And this man he was sick, he needed treatment.”

Steven Angus was fatally shot by police at a Kirwan house.

Mr Leavers said the way the information was released on Friday was “absolutely unacceptable”.

“Mr Keyes needs to stand by his word, he says he will take full responsibility, well Mr Keyes should resign immediately and take responsibility,” Mr Leavers said.

“He has clearly shown he is incapable and unable to run Townsville mental health and all persons who come into their care are at risk, are as the community and police officers as well who are still suffering as a result of this tragedy which should never have taken place.

“Absolutely what has been shown, the care given when Mr Angus was first taken to hospital was inappropriate and simply didn’t work. Mr Angus required medical health, he didn’t need to be incarcerated, he needed treatment and he needed help.

Police Union President Ian Leavers. Photo Steve Pohlner

“He was a former ADF officer who served the people of Australia, he needed treatment, not to be thrown out of the street. And as a result we saw a tragedy occur the next day where he lost his life, his family will suffer forever in a day and the police are suffering as well,” he said.

“Bring on the coronial inquest and let all this information come out. They can’t hide before the coroner. I want this information to come out, it has taken too long.”

Originally published as Review into death of veteran Steven Angus releases findings