Hedland Aboriginal woman was a known suicide risk, left alone in small hospital room before taking her life

An Aboriginal woman who died after seeking mental health treatment at Hedland Health Campus ended her own life inside the hospital after staff left her alone in a room — despite knowing she was a suicide risk. The West Australian last week revealed the WA Health Department had launched an investigation after the woman, who has not been identified for cultural reasons, tragically took her own life after going to the hospital for mental health treatment last month. Sources close to the incident have since revealed the woman — who was had been taken to the hospital earlier that day by concerned family members — ended her life inside the hospital after she was placed in a “side room”. It is unclear exactly for how long the woman was left by herself. But the tragic discovery was made when staff returned to the room. It is also understood the woman was a known suicide risk and had been receiving treatment for mental health issues for a number of years. A Hedland Health Campus spokeswoman said it would not comment on the case while it was under investigation. “As previously advised, out of respect to the family and due to patient confidentiality and an ongoing investigation, it would be inappropriate for us to respond to these claims,” she said. “WA Country Health Service acknowledges that any death is devastating for family, friends and the broader community and implores people to seek help early if they’re having trouble managing their mental health.” Shadow Health Minister Libby Mettam said the woman’s death was devastating for her family and the health workers who treated her. “Our heart goes out to everyone impacted by this tragedy,” Ms Mettam said. “As a matter of urgency, it is essential that the hospital is provided with a full staffing roster to ensure that patients in the region can expect the best possible care and our health workers have the support they need.” Town of Port Hedland Mayor Peter Carter called for more mental health services to be made available for the “tough” town. “You need a lot of mental health (services) for men and women,” Mr Carter said. “Port Hedland, it’s a tough town, if you don’t have the right people to support you It’s pretty easy to go off off the rails so to speak. “We don’t have enough for young kids, adults, all the way through, we should have more mental health in our town.” Australian Medical Association (WA) president Mark Duncan-Smith said he was unaware of the specifics of the incident but that staffing of hospitals across regional WA – and especially in the North West – had been an issue for some time. “From my point of view, it’s very frustrating trying to get WA Health to understand the critical level of poor culture and morale in the country,” Dr Duncan-Smith said. “I’ve been advised that health professionals quite simply are just quitting. They’re just leaving. “It really is, I think, getting to become dire. And it is being brought to the attention of WA Health and very little seems to be getting done about it.” Dr Duncan-Smith also pointed to the results of the most recent Minister for Health Survey in 2021, which found contracted medical practitioners in regional hospitals were far less satisfied than their peers in Perth. “The bottom line is that WACHS is not an employer of choice,” he said. “They do not provide a work environment that is conducive to being an employer of choice and they have the poorest morale and engagement.” Staff at the hospital walked off the job in protest against severe rostering shortages last August, protesting against excessive hours, fatigue and burnout. In October, the WACHS midwifery coordinator emailed maternity staff with a “super urgent shout out for midwives for the Pilbara”. “I know you are all strapped but if there are any midwives, or yourselves, interested in short term deployment to Karratha or Hedland from Nov 8 – travel, accommodation and site allowances apply,” the email read. “They are at imminent risk of service failure, name your terms…” In a crisis call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or call beyondblue on 1300 224 636 for free counselling.