Solitary protest is over
Man chained himself to a tree for two days
AN elderly protestor has been arrested after more than two days chained to a palm tree in the middle of a North Queensland town.
Despite multiple warnings, Kimberley “Kim” Martin was taken into custody and charged with public nuisance at midday on Wednesday, about 50 hours after embarking on his highly visible protest in the Ingham CBD.
Mr Martin said he was protesting what he alleged was disparaging treatment in Ingham Hospital’s Emergency Department as well as the lack of after-hours GP and pharmacy services in Hinchinbrook.
Speaking on the intersection of the Bruce Highway and Lannercost Street before his arrest, the 65-year-old retired tyre fitter from Bemerside said his lower left leg and foot became infected on Saturday.
He said he rang the hospital to let them know he was presenting at ED with a likely bacterial infection and that he “didn’t want to be judged when I arrived” because of his tattoos and appearance.
He claimed that despite the verbal assurances, he was judged by hospital staff, and left of his own accord without treatment.
Townsville Health and Hospital Service strongly deny the claim Mr Martin was judged.
Mr Martin said he returned home but the pain was so bad on Sunday morning that he called Triple Zero for an ambulance.
He said the Queensland Ambulance Service paramedic helped facilitate access to a Brisbane doctor via a video call and then helped him fill a script for antibacterial medication.
Mr Martin said he could not access a general medical practitioner (GP) in Hinchinbrook on Sunday and alleged that the after-hours emergency pharmacy would not have opened without the paramedic’s intervention.
He said his protest was to highlight what he claimed was a lack of access to the Ingham ED, which placed strains on overworked auxiliary medical and pharmaceutical services in Hinchinbrook on Sundays.
THHS chief executive Kieran Keyes said its “doors are always open to community members requiring emergency care”.
“We would never judge someone presenting to our hospitals or deny them treatment,” he said. “We encourage people presenting to our emergency departments to always remain until they have received the care they need.”
It is understood complaints were made to police when Mr Martin wrapped a towel around himself to use a bucket as a toilet on Wednesday morning.
Mr Martin said he was scheduled to appear in the Ingham Magistrates Court on Thursday, December 1.