Staff ‘misled’ as to woman’s condition

Press, 15 February 1989, Page 6

Staff ‘misled’ as to woman’s condition

Staff at Christchurch Hospital were misled as to the condition of a woman who died several hours after being refused admission, a coroner’s inquest was told yesterday. Mr Chris McVeigh, representing the family of the dead woman, claimed wrong information was given to psychiatric staff, who after a routine assessment refused to admit her.

Marilyn Kay Snelgar, aged 37, died at 8 a.m. on September 4, 1986, 12 hours after being discharged from Christchurch Hospital.

She had been admitted to hospital by a locum who was acting for her doctor, away on holiday. The locum, Dr Paul Petersen, was uncertain of Mrs Snelgar’s problem, but was convinced both medical and psychological reasons were behind it. Mrs Snelgar had complained of severe pain in the lower back and legs, and had passed discoloured urine. The Coroner, Mr Neil McLean, was told Mrs Snelgar, who had a history of psychological problems, was referred to the hospital’s crisis team by an “unknown” staff

member. A witness, the former head of the accident and emergency department, Dr Angela Pitchford, said a staff member, quite likely a “house surgeon,” had opted for that course of action after being given two options by a senior orthopaedic, surgeon, Dr David Lyons. Dr Lyons recommended a medical examination, as suggested by the locum, or referral to the crisis team. Dr Lyons was allegedly unaware of the discoloured urine. Mr McVeigh said a blood and urine test should have been done by the accident and emergency department and questioned whether the department had been too busy to do it. It was also revealed that reports from two previous admittances of Mrs Snelgar, for a urine infection in 1977 and drug overdose two years later, were not available on the night in question. They were locked away in another building. After being assessed by crisis team members, Mrs Snelgar was refused admittance, even though she was pleading for it, a

decision defended by Dr Pitchford yesterday. After reviewing the death the next day, it was thought that if Mrs Snelgar’s condition was that poor, she probably would have died regardless, said Dr Pitchford. “Knowing she died 12 hours after the hospital discharge, one feels it would have been better if she had not been in hospital and in fact died there (at home),” she said. “I have doubts whether such a complex problem could have been resolved in such a short period of time to have resolved the outcome.” The crisis team had suggested admitting Mrs Snelgar to a special bed for overnight psychiatric patients, but this was declined by her after followup treatment was suggested. Dr Pitchford said even if Mrs Snelgar had been admitted in any capacity, she would not have been given specialist treatment. “She would not have received any intensive monitoring. There would have been times when she would have been alone.” The inquest continues today.