The family of a 74-year-old Victorian woman who died of a heart attack 15 hours after arriving at a hospital says her condition was not deemed urgent enough to qualify for an after-hours ultrasound.
Bernice Snell was on high alert for blood clots because of new medication she was on and had been told to attend her closest emergency department if she had swelling or pain in her legs.
While she waited in the emergency department of Latrobe Regional Hospital on Saturday, the mother of four excitedly rang her sisters to tell them she was going to become a grandmother for the 14th time.
She had only been told that day.
Ms Snell was left to wait with 30 or so other patients in the waiting room for more than six hours until she was transferred to a short-term stay bed on a ward.
Her family told the ABC in that time there were no ultrasounds conducted and no medication given, despite her daughter, Lauren, requesting an anti-coagulant.
Ms Snell was scheduled to have an ultrasound on her leg the next morning — her condition was not classed as urgent and by 6:00pm there were no radiologists on duty.
She died of a heart attack at about 1:00am after attempting to go to the bathroom on her own.
Nurses had previously described her as "wobbly" on her feet.
Questions raised
Member for Gippsland South Danny O'Brien told Ms Snell's story during question time in state parliament on Thursday.
"How is a 74-year-old woman in pain being forced to wait six hours for treatment and then tragically losing her life acceptable in this state?" he said.
Ms Snell was well known to Mr O'Brien because she was often a voice for her community.
The ABC has contacted Latrobe Regional Hospital for comment.
In parliament on Thursday Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas expressed her "sadness and condolences to Bernice's family in what must be a very, very difficult time".
"Our healthcare system is full of people who have made an exceptional effort over the last two and a half years to deliver the very best healthcare in the most difficult of circumstances," she said.
"At every step of the way a person under the care of our health system system is being assessed at every point.
"People in our health system do not always have good outcomes."
'Time of need'
Ms Snell's son, Matthew Snell, told the ABC the family was in shock.
He believed if she had been seen earlier in the day an ultrasound would have given an indication of her condition.
"They said it wasn't required, which was believing a blood test had been done," Mr Snell said.
"She told them very clearly that she'd had a change in medication.
"She also had mentioned that she has a family that had clots before."
The Snell family has had minimal contact with Latrobe Regional Hospital so far and told the ABC they would wait to hear the other side of the story.
But Mr Snell did have to officially accept that a coroner would not be investigating because his mother was deemed to have died of natural causes.
"Her whole life she'd given up her needs to help people in their time of need and we felt she didn't get the care required in her time of need," he said.
"I just hate the fact that it doesn't seem that she was treated.
"She went for care — it doesn't seem like there was much care for her."
Ms Snell was very well known in the Mirboo North community in South Gippsland and counted Olympic basketballer Belinda Snell among her four children.
"She was the epitome of kindness and generosity and a pillar of our community," a tribute from Mirboo North Primary School on Facebook read.
"There isn't a sporting association that Bernice didn't support and offer guidance as her years of expertise, wisdom, sense of fairness and wanting kids to succeed was second to none."
'Active investigation'
In a statement, Latrobe Regional Hospital chief executive Don McRae offered his condolences to Ms Snell's family.
"Our emergency department team has spoken with members of the family this week to answer any questions and will meet with them in person," he said.
"I appreciate this is also a sad time for the people of Mirboo North who have lost a dear friend and contributor to many community causes.
"While Ms Snell was at our hospital, she was being observed regularly and received ongoing care from our nursing and medical teams.
"Ms Snell had also been admitted to our Tambo Short Stay Unit while awaiting further tests.
"Ms Snell's death is under active investigation by Latrobe Regional Hospital."
