Hospital unit shut in wake of death

DARWIN Private Hospital’s “high dependency unit”, heavily criticised during the inquest into the death of an elderly woman, is no more.

During the inquest into the 2015 death of Irene Magripilis, the unit was described as being unsafe. In his report into her death, Coroner Greg Cavanagh recommended the unit be “properly resourced” if it was to continue to operate.

In a response to those recommendations tabled in Parliament this week, Health Minister Natasha Fyles wrote the unit had been shut down.

An external review of the unit found it did not function as a high dependency unit, but as an “environment for close nursing observation”.

The unit has been retooled as a “special observation unit” with changes to policies and functions in response to Mr Cavanagh’s recommendations.

In response to Mr Cavanagh’s scathing report, Darwin Private’s licensing assessment was brought forward four months and was due to be complete in September, with a licence granted for just six months instead of the standard period of a year.

The outcome of that assessment is still pending.

Two general surgeons are

Treatment ‘problematic at almost every point’ GREG CAVANAGH

working to review the hospital’s ability to perform highrisk surgeries.

Ms Magripilis died at Royal Darwin Hospital in May 2015. Previously a healthy 75-yearold, she had underwent a highrisk operation to remove an intestinal growth at Darwin Private Hospital three days before her death.

She died of multi-organ failure due to a sepsis infection caused when an internal stitch failed and bile leaked into her abdomen. She was transferred to RDH’s intensive care unit before she died.

In his findings, Mr Cavanagh said Ms Magripilis’ treatment “was problematic at almost every point”.

Mr Cavanagh said doctors and nurses ignored Ms Magripilis’ complaints of burning abdominal pain post-op, despite her family’s constant concern.

“The frustration of her family must have been immense.”