Mater Private Hospital Mackay at centre of coronial probe after woman’s death

A Queensland private hospital is at the centre of a coronial probe launched after a grandmother died from severe bleeding complications after surgery.

Mackay grandmother Robyn Anne Beale under went surgery to remove half the thyroid gland at Mater Private Hospital on August 2, 2021. Tragically she died.

Staff limitations and after-hours medical care will be a main focus of an inquest into the death of a woman who suffered catastrophic bleeding complications after thyroid surgery at a Mackay hospital.

Mackay grandmother Robyn Anne Beale under went a hemithyroidectomy – the removal of half the thyroid gland – at Mater Private Hospital on August 2, 2021.

But by the early hours the next morning there were bleeding complications and tragically she died.

A coroner will now probe exactly what happened, and if the post-operative care given to Mrs Beale was appropriate or if the hospital and medical staff caused her death.

Coroner Carol Lee will examine if it was the right decision to perform the thyroid surgery on Mrs Beale given that post-operative thyroidectomy wound haematoma, though rare, are well-known and also knowing Mackay Mater has limited after hours care, or should it have been done elsewhere or at a different time.

Mater Private Hospital Mackay.

The coroner will also look at if the bleeding complication was arterial or venous and if the nursing care was adequate regarding the frequency and record keeping.

This includes exploring if the medical and nursing staff and after-hours nursing care model at Mackay Mater provided the necessary skill-set and coverage to detect and manage the bleeding complication, or any other patient post-operative complications, in a timely manner so as to reduce the risk of catastrophic injury or death of a patient.

The coroner will also question the paramedic services for Mrs Beale at Mackay Mater between 2.41am and 4.37am on August 3 and if the treatment and management of the bleeding complication by three doctors was appropriate.

Ms Lee will also explore whether any aspect of the treatment and management provided to Mrs Beale or any failure to provide treatment and management caused or hastened her death.

A pre-inquest conference is set for 10am in Brisbane on June 17. This publication has reached out to Mackay Mater for comment.

Originally published as Mater Private Hospital Mackay at centre of coronial probe after woman’s death