Clinical review in wake of shooting
Man was released from hospital just hours before fatal incident
Police say they had not finished paperwork for taking a mentally ill man to hospital before he was discharged and shot dead by officers in another incident just hours later.
Queensland Police Union President Ian Leavers on Sunday demanded a full Queensland Health Department review into why Steven Angus, 52, was released from hospital and why police were not told.
Police shot and killed Mr Angus on Friday just a day after officers had spent two hours negotiating with him in a siege situation on Bel Air Av in Kirwan.
He surrendered, was taken to Townsville University Hospital but was then released without police being told of his discharge.
The hospital confirmed there would be a “comprehensive clinical review” into the incident.
Mr Leavers said Mr Angus would still be alive had he been given the appropriate care he needed in hospital.
“The QPU is calling on a full Health Department Review into Townsville Hospital that resulted in a Kirwan man being released from care and a short time later threatening police with bladed weapons,” Mr Leavers said on Sunday.
“After police took this man to hospital for emergency mental health management, he was bizarrely almost immediately released by Queensland Health and was back in the community before officers had even completed the paperwork on why he needed emergency care.
“Whether it’s a lack of adequate treatment beds or triage and assessment the Health Department needs to explain to the coroner why this man who obviously needed urgent care was allowed to return home.
“A failure to share information resulted in no-one knowing if this man was vulnerable, required further support or at high risk if he again interacted with police.” Mr Leavers said police had been put into a traumatic situation that could have been avoided.
“Queensland Health is in a shambles and once again it is the police who are paying the price,” he said. “The police involved are being investigated and their actions scrutinised. The Health Department cannot hide behind patient confidentiality or any other excuse, I want their decisions to also be fully investigated and reviewed for the coroner.”
Townsville Hospital and Health Service chief executive Kieran Keyes confirmed a “comprehensive clinical review” would be completed to determine “what learnings or actions may result from this tragic incident”.
“However, I am unable to provide any details due to patient confidentiality,” he said.
“As the matter is under investigation by the Queensland
Police Service, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.”
Health Minister Yvette D’ath and Police Minister Mark Ryan were both asked if there needed to be better sharing between Queensland Health and police.
Police Minister Mark Ryan said Queensland police were well trained and “absolutely committed to acting in the interests of community safety”.
“As the matters surrounding this specific incident are now the subject of investigation by the Ethical Standards Command with oversight by the Crime and Corruption Commission and the Coroner, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time,” he said. Ms D’ath said: “As the matters surrounding this specific incident are under investigation by both the QPS Ethical Standards Command and a HHS clinical review, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this time.”