Inquest to probe RPH protocol
An inquest into the death of a young woman, who should have been seen within 30 minutes of her admission to Royal Perth Hospital, will investigate why she was not fully assessed at the hospital.
Melissa Ann Nielson, 24, had a long and complex medical history, which included kidney disease, heart problems and type 1 diabetes, and went to Joondalup Health Campus on September 3, 2009 with severe skin lesions.
Doctors were unable to make a diagnosis and because of the accelerating nature of her condition, which included blisters on her legs and hands and weeping and open wounds, they requested an urgent transfer to RPH for a dermatological review and management.
Miss Nielson arrived at RPH soon after midnight and was last seen about 12.10am by a nurse who gave her a triage score of three, which meant she should have been seen within 30 minutes. Miss Nielson was found unresponsive and not breathing about 12.50am.
Though resuscitation efforts produced a pulse and she was moved to the intensive care unit, she died about two weeks later.
An autopsy found she died from hypoxic brain injury after an unexplained cardio-respiratory arrest.
Opening the inquest yesterday, counsel assisting the Coroner Kate Ellson said it would examine issues including who was responsible for assessing Miss Nielson at RPH.
Miss Nielson's family said they hoped the inquest would lead to answers about the vibrant young woman's death.
Wayne Nielson gave evidence yesterday, remembering his daughter as a happy child who had loved sport.
He said despite his daughter's ill health, she had been fiercely independent and had dreamt of getting married and having children.
