Coroner to consider inquest into death of Patrina Pascoe

Management has denied quality of care was a factor in the death of Patrina Pascoe at an Anglicare-run sobering-up facility in Cairns last year, as the Northern Coroner considers whether an inquest into the mother’s passing will go ahead.

A first nations woman from Lockhart River Patrina Pascoe, aged 32, died at the Lyons St Diversionary Centre on December 31, 2023. Picture: Supplied

A coronial investigation into the death of a Lockhart River woman at a Cairns sobering-up facility last year has finished, however no decision has been made about whether a public hearing into the mothers’s passing will go ahead.

In December 2023 Patrina Pascoe was found dead in her bed at the Anglicare Lyons St Diversionary Centre.

Ms Pascoe was not discovered by staff until about 2.30pm the day after being picked up from a Lake St bus stop by workers in the outreach bus.

The Lyons St Diversionary Centre expanded its capacity from 36 beds to 50 beds in 2023.

Crucial bed checks, mandated every 15-30 minutes, were allegedly missed.

According to the Coroners Court of Queensland, the Northern Coroner Stephanie Williams was advised on August 27 that the investigation into Ms Pascoe’s death was ready for review.

“When the Coroner is able to review the coronial investigation, she will determine what steps are necessary including whether non-inquest findings are able to be made into Ms Pascoe’s death,” a Coroners Court spokesman said.

Once the coroner completes the first round of investigations she will then consider if an inquest into the death is necessary.

The coroner consults with the family, who can also make a request for the coroner to hold an inquest, but most coronial investigations are finalised without a public inquiry.

At the end of an investigation, the coroner writes a report on the findings and sends a copy to the family.

Patrina Pascoe was 32 when she died. Picture: Supplied

No details of the preliminary investigation into the death of Ms Pascoe have been made public.

Allegations made by a former staff member working at the centre, including staff falling asleep on the job and missing client beds remain unproven along with further accusations of a toxic workplace and staff making derogatory comments about intoxicated female clients.

At the time of the death Anglicare refused to comment on the passing of Ms Pascoe but recently Anglicare NQ executive manager Andrew Brackman spoke on the issue.

“So my understanding of that issue is that the coroner closed the investigation and closed it fairly quickly after her death,” he said.

Anglicare NQ executive manager Andrew Brackman with then Opposition child safety spokeswoman Amanda Camm and Cairns LNP candidate Yolonde Entsch at the announcement of the LNP Safer Children, Safer Communities policy on the campaign trail last month. Picture: Peter Carruthers

“It was closed almost straight away (and) the cause of her death wasn’t attributable to the care that she received.

“We were given that feedback straight away, which was a great comfort to us.”

Immediately following Ms Pascoe’s death Mr Brackman said advice was sought from indigenous elders before the smoking ceremony was held.

Mr Brackman declined to respond to a call for the stripping of Anglicare’s funding made by prisoner advocate Debbie Kilroy immediately after Ms Pascoe’s death.

The death of Ms Pascoe is understood to be the first at the facility since Anglicare took over the management of the sobering up centre in 2009.

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Originally published as Coroner to consider inquest into death of Patrina Pascoe