‘Everyone’s rock’: Mum of six, Sandra Shipley, 55, dies after leaving Grafton Hospital

When Ken Baker took his partner, oncology patient Sandra Shipley, to a NSW hospital he expected to get help. Later that night she died.

Grafton Base Hospital on Arthur St, Grafton.

When Ken Baker took his partner Sandra Shipley into Grafton Base Hospital’s emergency department he said “I expected to get help and it just didn’t happen”.

What he didn’t expect was that Ms Shipley would die later that night, despite believing she could have five more years to live.

On the night of Saturday, March 22, Mr Baker arrived at the emergency department with Ms Shipley “slumped over in the back seat” and called for help and a wheelchair.

“Her blood pressure was 70 over 50 and she was in and out of consciousness,” Mr Baker said.

Grafton woman, 55-year old Sandra Shipley and partner of 20 years Ken Baker.

But despite telling the staff she was terminally ill with lung cancer and showing her oncology card — which he had been told would guarantee her “being seen straight away”- after 45 minutes she hadn’t been seen to nor had her Medicare details been taken.

Mr Baker said he felt “disappointed” over the treatment that night and claimed Ms Shipley’s condition was not prioritised.

However, Northern NSW Local Health District say they have spoken with the family and are looking into the circumstances around Ms Shipley’s presentation at the ED.

Mum of six, Sandra Shipley with her second eldest child Shannon.

“It felt like they ignored us.

“I told them the blood pressure and it was just like – no feeling.

“They just didn’t seem to care,” Mr Baker said.

Unable to endure the wait any longer and in severe pain Ms Shipley begged her partner of 20 years to take her back home.

Grafton grandmother, 55-year old Sandra Shipley died after family recount a “disappointing” experience at Grafton Hospital's Emergency Department.

“She was angry, she was upset, she was crying.

“At that point she wanted me to take her home and things progressed from there.”

Ms Shipley, a mother of six, died sometime between getting into bed about 3.30am and 9am the next morning.

Her daughter Shannon Shipley described her mum as “everyone’s rock” especially to her six children and nine grandchildren.

Grafton Base Hospital. Picture: NSW Health

A shell-shocked Mr Baker said he is still upset that protocol around the Medicare details and the oncology card were not followed.

“It’s not good enough — people can’t go to hospital and then go home and die,” he said.

The Northern NSW Local Health District have responded to Ms Shipley’s death with condolences.

“Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) extends its deepest condolences to family and friends for their loss.

“A review into the circumstances of care provided to this patient is being undertaken and we have spoken with the family of Ms Shipley,” a spokesman for NNSWLHD said.

Meanwhile the family have established a GoFundMe fundraiser to assist with Ms Shipley’s funeral costs.

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Originally published as ‘Everyone’s rock’: Mum of six, Sandra Shipley, 55, dies after leaving Grafton Hospital