Thunderstorm asthma: state coroner will investigate 8 deaths
THE State Coroner will investigate the deaths of eight people killed after a freak storm triggered bouts of thunderstorm asthma.
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THE State Coroner will investigate the deaths of eight people killed after a freak storm triggered bouts of thunderstorm asthma.
The investigation comes as Health Minister Jill Hennessy came under fire in Parliament today over her immediate response to the thunderstorm asthma crisis.
Eight people died and more than 8500 people required care following an outbreak of thunderstorm asthma that hit the state on November 21.
In a statement issued today the Coroner’s Court said the deaths would be investigated together.
But a determination about the need for an inquest has not yet been made.
“The investigating coroner will investigate these deaths together so that in addition to clarifying the circumstances of each individual’s death, any common themes may be identified,” the statement said.
“The focus of the coronial investigation will be on systemic issues, if any, and it will endeavour to identify avenues through which similar deaths may be prevented in the future.”
The coronial investigation will operate independent of any other review, such as that commenced by the Inspector-General of Emergency Management.
“In order to avoid unnecessary duplication of inquiries, the coroner will liaise with other relevant investigative authorities and consider the evidence gathered and findings made by those authorities,” the Coroner’s Court said.
“The coronial investigation is in its early stages and is ongoing. No determination about the need for an inquest has been made.”
Chief Health Officer Professor Charles Guest described last month’s asthma outbreak as an extremely rare event.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Jill Hennessy came under fire today in Parliament as she was questioned about her immediate response to the thunderstorm asthma crisis.
Deputy Opposition Leader Peter Walsh asked why she had not spoken to the state’s Chief Health Officer or the chief executives of Ambulance Victoria and the major hospitals on the night of the unprecedented event.
Ms Hennessy said she was receiving regular updates from the secretary of the Department of Health.
“There is a chain of command,” she said.
“I indeed ensured that I was receiving the information that was required from the secretary of my department and I was not interfering with very challenging operational circumstances.”
Mr Walsh then accused Ms Hennessy of sitting at home and doing nothing instead of demanding that emergency health warnings were issued to the community.
The Health Minister rejected the question and accused the Opposition of turning the crisis into “a political football”.
“I’m certainly not taking a lecture from those on the other side about doing nothing, a matter that they are incredibly expert in,” Ms Hennessy said.
“All lessons that need to be learnt from this very, very sad set of events will be learnt.”