Startling recommendations follow West Moreton Health review into Ipswich mum’s miscarriage ordeal

Queensland Health officials have been forced to clarify that mobile phone torch lights are not be used to examine pregnant women after one woman’s emergency department nightmare.

Nikkole Southwell’s ordeal played out at Ipswich Hospital.

Queensland Health officials have been forced to clarify that mobile phone torch lights are not be used to examine pregnant women.

The startling recommendation was made in the formal review of the care given to a young Ipswich mother who was forced to sit with the remains of her baby in a biohazard bag in Ipswich Hospital’s emergency department waiting room before she was examined by staff using the torchlight on her partner’s mobile phone.

The review also considered it necessary to tell staff to check the curtains in the emergency department and “replace if required” — a response to the young mum’s claim that she was placed in a cubicle with curtains covered with another patient’s blood.

Nikkole Southwell, from Fernvale, lost her baby at about 12 weeks in April this year.

She was taken to Ipswich Hospital for treatment, where she claimed a series of bungles with her care then ensued.

Nikkole Southwell experienced horrific care from Ipswich hospital after her miscarriage. Fernvale Saturday 3rd June 2023 Picture David Clark

The recommendations of the report referred to several of her grievances, including her claim she was left to sit — while wrapped in sheets and sitting in her own blood — with her miscarried baby in a biohazard bag in the emergency department waiting room “for all to see”.

“I lost my baby and my dignity was taken,” she said.

Ms Southwell said on Wednesday night she was pleased by the series of recommendations handed down after her healthcare review, but more could be done.

“I would also like a lot of these to not only be recommendations for WMH (West Moreton Health) but all public hospitals throughout Queensland.” she said.

“(My partner and I) live with some mental health effects that have come from the situation and circumstances but we are doing well and with each new day we are learning to overcome these.”

A review into the care of a woman at Ipswich Hospital as she suffered a miscarriage has been handed down. Picture: David Clark

A key outcome from the review was the recommendation that a full review of the model of care for miscarriage at Ipswich hospital be undertaken.

Along with instructions for staff not to use mobile phone torch lights for examinations and to ensure curtains were clean, the review recommended “handover protocols with Queensland Ambulance Service to ensure early identification of items, such as biohazard bags, known to be in a patient’s possession”.

In total, nine recommendations were prepared, to be sent to Health Minister Shannon Fentiman.

At the time, Ms Fentiman was forced to admit Queensland had no best practice guidelines to care for women who miscarried.

She ordered her department urgently work with frontline staff to develop best-practice guidelines for women who miscarry, and called a maternity crisis meeting to source real solutions.

“Women right across Queensland deserve to be treated with compassion and a trauma-informed way when they present to our hospitals,” Ms Fentiman said at the time.

The report's full list of recommendations

Originally published as Startling recommendations follow West Moreton Health review into Ipswich mum’s miscarriage ordeal