Vincent Louis O’Keefe: Veteran allegedly attacked, dies in Townsville hospital

Horrifying new claims have emerged about the death of a sound-minded Vietnam veteran in Townsville hospital’s dementia ward.

Vietnam war veteran Vincent Louis O’Keefe and surviving wife Mary. Townsville-born Mr O’Keefe worked as a refrigeration mechanic and then as a groundsman at Ignatius Park College. Picture: Supplied

Horrifying new claims have emerged about the death of a sound-minded Vietnam veteran in Townsville University Hospital’s dementia ward.

The deceased man can be revealed as Vincent Louis O’Keefe, 77, who served aboard HMAS Sydney from 1965 to 1968 and later worked as a refrigeration mechanic and then as a groundsman at Ignatius Park College, both in Townsville where he was born.

According to the Nurses Professional Association of Queensland (NPAQ), Mr O’Keefe was allegedly attacked by a dementia patient, also in his 70s, with an allegedly violent recent history.

NPAQ, which represents about 15 per cent of the State’s 60,000 nurses, has called for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack on Mr O’Keefe’s on October 25 and death the following day.

“A Vietnam war survivor hasn’t survived a harrowing conflict at Townsville hospital,” NPAQ said on Monday.

Townsville University Hospital. Picture: Evan Morgan

A family friend said Mr O’Keefe, a man he had always known as an uncle although they were not related by blood, was “the nicest person you would ever meet, would do anything for anyone”.

He said Mr O’Keefe, who is survived by wife Mary and an adopted child, said Mr O’Keefe was only recently diagnosed with early-stage dementia and temporarily placed in TUH Ward Five.

The family friend, 26, said that while he worked with TUH to have Mr O’Keefe placed in a nursing home he was sent to an interim nursing home that he disliked and tried to leave.

He said that after the incident, Mr O’Keefe, a small man, was placed back in Ward Five, revealing that his uncle had previously allegedly been attacked in the same hospital although he did not know if the incidents were related.

“I spoke to doctors on that ward and said that he got attacked, which was unacceptable, and they reassured me, ‘we’re going to put him on the other side of the ward, he’s going to be okay’,” he said, referring to the non-secure section of Ward Five.

“Within a day-and-a-half, another doctor’s ringing me saying that he was assaulted and had significant head injuries.”

He said he was told that before Mr O’Keefe passed into unconsciousness and died, he gave a statement “that the patient walked into his room, grabbed him and threw him on the floor.”

He said Mr O’Keefe suffered a brain bleed in the blow to the back of his head but was not operated on due to his age and died about 10pm the next night.

He alleged that Townsville Police were not notified about the assault until six hours had passed.

The man said THHS was still yet to contact either Ms O’Keefe or himself in his capacity as the woman’s Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA).

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath at Townsville University Hospital earlier this year. The minister declined to comment on the incident. Picture: Evan Morgan

The NPAQ pulled no punches on Monday, calling the incident an attempted “cover-up” by hospital authorities.

President Marg Gilbert said staff were initially informed that there had been an assault but then told that Mr O’Keefe had fallen out of bed and that the alleged assailant’s “security special” classification had been removed.

Ms Gilbert, who plans to travel to Townsville on Wednesday to provide support to staff, said the removal of the classification and with it the security guard from Ward Five further traumatised the nurses.

“They still had some issue because he was still aggressive towards the staff … they were feeling quite traumatised because of the previous incident where somebody passed away.”

She said she was also concerned about the length of time it took THHS to contact police.

Concerns about any alleged delay in contacting police were put directly to THHS, which decline to comment on this point.

Ms Gilbert, who has 40 years’ experience as a nurse, said multiple incidents had been raised about the patient’s aggression in the past via Queensland Health’s RiskMan information system.

“There have been numerous RiskMans done about his aggressive behaviour, I understand he has aggression-management issues.”

Townsville Hospital and Health Services Chief Executive Kieran Keyes. Picture: Alix Sweeney

She said relatives of other patients within the Ward Five unit had also “voiced concerns”.

Queensland Police Service confirmed investigations into Mr O’Keefe’s death were ongoing, saying “it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time”.

“In terms of your query regarding the time frame hospital staff contacted police, this would be best directed to Queensland Health regarding processes they have in place.”

Townsville Hospital and Health Service chief executive officer Kieran Keyes said he was unable to comment while a police investigation was underway.

“This is a tragic situation, and we are working closely with the Queensland Police Service to assist with its investigation,” he said.

“Any harm that comes to a patient in our care is very distressing and we will work hard to understand the circumstances surrounding this incident and what changes may need to happen.”

Mr Keyes said THHS was “committed to keeping the family informed and supporting them and our staff at this sad and difficult time”.

Originally published as Vincent Louis O’Keefe: Veteran allegedly attacked, dies in Townsville hospital