Investigations under way after nurse found dead in ED at major Sydney hospital

Investigations are under way at a Sydney hospital after a nurse was found dead in an emergency department storeroom. Questions have been raised over duress alarms, and whether they were working at the time.

Investigations are under way at a Sydney hospital after a nurse was found dead in an emergency department storeroom.

The man, aged 26, was found dead in an ED storeroom at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital on December 13, 2022, after it’s understood he failed to return from a scheduled break.

Questions are being raised over duress alarms, and whether they were working at the time.

Documents released to the Sunday Telegraph through freedom of information laws revealed the man was found by colleagues around 8.30am, several hours after he was last seen.

His colleagues tried, and tragically failed, to resuscitate him, before police arrived on scene.

A crime scene was declared and investigations began, before the matter was referred for coronial investigation – which is ongoing 18 months later.

A nurse died in the emergency department on December 13, 2022. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

In internal communications between senior hospital management, it was revealed, that the man spent more than an hour in the emergency department drug room before he was found by staff some hours later.

An internal briefing was held for staff impacted by the incident following the man’s death – which has been treated as suicide – with senior staff bracing for “challenging questions” about the duress system.

It’s understood senior staff were expecting questions on this topic because complaints had been made with both SafeWork NSW and The Sydney Local Health District just two months prior about the devices malfunctioning or not working.

When a duress alarm goes off correctly, it alerts staff wearing similar devices that someone is in trouble and where they are located, so assistance can be rendered.

In a submission to the independent Review of SafeWork by former Supreme Court judge Robert McDougall KC, the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association said despite the complaints about the alarms, they had not been fixed prior to the nurse’s death.

SafeWork NSW and the state coroner are investigating the incident. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

The union also said the nurse’s duress alarm did not go off despite the requirement for a ‘man down’ function. If it had gone off, the union said in its submission his co-workers may have been able to resuscitate him.

It’s understood SafeWork issued a notice to the hospital in May 2023 over 16 faulty duress tags and no proper systems for testing of alarms.

When contacted by the Sunday Telegraph, SafeWork NSW said it was unable to comment as investigations into the nurse’s death were ongoing.

The Sydney Local Health District also declined to comment on the specifics of the incident.

“Sydney Local Health District extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the staff member,” a spokesman said.

“Support was provided to affected staff members via the Employee Assistance Program, and dedicated counsellors were on site to assist.

“As the matter is before the Coroner, it is not appropriate to provide further comment.”