West Moreton Health reviews ED issues after Qld grandfather Wayne Irving’s death on ramp

Premier Steven Miles has defended Queensland’s health system, as a recent review into a grandad’s death on the Ipswich Hospital ramp raised concerns with ED staffing and pain relief procedures.

Ambulances parked at Ipswich Hospital, Picture: Liam Kidston

Premier Steven Miles has defended Queensland’s health system amid major emergency department changes sparked by the death of a Scenic Rim grandfather.

During Question Time today, April 16, Opposition Leader David Crisafulli queried the lack of dedicated staff overseeing patients in the middle zone between paramedics offloading patients and the emergency department on the day Wayne Irving died.

Mr Miles accused Mr Crisafulli of selectively quoting from the report into Mr Irving’s death, which was released on April 15.

He said the investigation revealed Mr Irving had suffered from an abdominal aortic aneurysm and the high mortality rate of the condition meant earlier diagnosis and treatment was unlikely to change the outcome.

Yesterday, a major South East Queensland hospital released recommendations for an emergency department overhaul following the death of a grandfather waiting on the ramp for a hospital bed.

West Moreton Health released recommended changes to its opiate treatment on April 15, after finding staff had misinterpreted pain relief procedure while treating Wayne Irving at Ipswich last November.

Mr Irving, 67, was ramped for three hours on November 17 after his wife Barbara called an ambulance due to his abdominal and back pain.

Mr Irving’s family told the Courier Mail at the time that his pain had escalated five times as he slipped in and out of consciousness.

They said a bed became available at 12.15am, but Mr Irving died before making it into the emergency department (ED).

Wayne Irving died as he waited for a bed at Ipswich Hospital. Photo: Supplied

West Moreton Health released an outline of the review, including proposed changes to the ED, today (April 15).

Proposed changes included ensuring better pain management for patients on the ramp, providing more efficient social worker support for families facing similar situations, and considering whether video footage may assist with future clinical incident reviews.

The review recommended the hospital update its procedure on opiate use to specifically include patients on the “ramp”.

It also acknowledged a number of “adverse factors” in Mr Irving’s treatment at Ipswich Hospital.

These included misinterpretation of pain relief procedures, demand pressures at the hospital, and lack of social workers available in the evening to support Mr Irving’s family.

They said there was also a lack of staff dedicated to overseeing patients on the ramp – which they clarified was located within the Ipswich Hospital ED.

West Moreton Health Service chief executive Hannah Bloch said the hospital staff continued to hold Mr Irving’s family in their thoughts, and offered their deepest condolences.

“The review confirmed that earlier diagnosis or treatment may not have changed the clinical outcome,” Ms Bloch said.

But she said they were able to identify areas where they could have provided a more compassionate experience for Mr Irving and his family.

“We assured the family that this is an important lesson we are committed to learning from and outlined the actions that have, and will, be taken,” said Ms Bloch.

Mr Irving’s daughter Lauren Hansford said the family “just really want to see these recommendations actually make a difference”.

“Nothing can bring our father back or make this situation any better to deal with,” she said.

“To get answers and see formal recommendations put in place to ensure no other family has to go through the grief and pain that we are going through is the right step forward”.

A West Moreton Health spokesman said the staffing recommendations have already been implemented, and the other recommendations would be fulfilled by July 31.

Originally published as West Moreton Health reviews ED issues after Qld grandfather Wayne Irving’s death on ramp