‘Defies belief’: Shocking hospital failure before veteran’s tragic death

A veteran was discharged from hospital without treatment despite an arrangement for him to be taken to a private mental health facility to get help hours before he was shot dead by police.

A Townsville veteran was discharged from hospital without treatment despite an arrangement for him to be taken to a private mental health facility to get help hours before he died.

Steven Angus, 52, was fatally shot by officers on April 21 after running at police with knives, nine hours after he was discharged from Townsville University Hospital, where he was taken by ambulance the previous night after a siege.

The Courier-Mail can reveal there was an arrangement between agencies for Mr Angus to be taken to the Townsville Private Clinic, a facility where he had been before, after sobering up at the public hospital.

But the initial plan wasn’t followed, and Mr Angus was instead discharged from Townsville University Hospital instead of being taken to the private facility. Nine hours later Mr Angus would be dead.

Steven Angus was fatally shot by police on Friday.

Townsville Hospital and Health Service chief executive Kieran Keyes has committed to a full investigation into the incident, but didn’t answer The Courier-Mail’s questions about the arrangement.

Townsville Private Clinic declined to comment when The Courier-Mail approached the clinic on Thursday.

Opposition spokesman for Police and Burdekin MP Dale Last said it was clear the “miscommunication” could have been prevented.

“There are some serious questions worth asking regarding Mr Angus’ treatment at Townsville University Hospital,” Mr Last said.

“Clearly there were miscommunications in this instance and as a consequence we now have a situation where there’s a coronial file being prepared, a family left devastated and emergency responders left to deal with the fallout.”

Queensland Police Union President Ian Leavers said the revelation “defied belief”.

After a two-hour police siege with Mr Angus on April 20 was resolved safely, it’s understood there was an arrangement made between agencies about his care.

Mr Angus was suffering a severe mental health crisis, threatening to harm himself, and he was very intoxicated.

Townsville University Hospital. Picture: Supplied

It’s understood an arrangement had been made for Mr Angus to be taken to Townsville University Hospital where he would sober up, before being transferred to Townsville Private Clinic.

Townsville Private Clinic is a mental health facility which includes programs and support for veterans and defence personnel, as well as tailored programs for Department of Veteran Affairs patients. Patients can’t leave for the first 24 hours following admission, and any leave after that period needs to be approved by an in-house psychiatrist, ­according to the website.

The plan wasn’t followed, and Mr Angus was discharged from the public hospital just before 8am on April 21.

Police on scene afer the fatal shooting. Picture: Caitlan Charles

Police were called back to a Kirwan house about 4.40pm the same day and found Mr Angus threatening to harm himself. He was armed with knives.

Within 15 minutes of police arriving, Mr Angus ran at them with the knives. An officer was forced to shoot him multiple times and he died.

A police Ethical Standards investigation into the incident has commenced.