A psychiatric nurse has told a coronial inquest prison nurses failed to check on Veronica Nelson before she died in custody, despite raising concerns with several colleagues.
The family of Veronica Nelson have granted permission to use her image.
The 37-year-old Indigenous woman died at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre on January 2, 2020, after suffering complications from Wilkie Syndrome, a rare medical condition affecting the intestine, while also experiencing heroin withdrawal.
Psychiatric nurse Bester Chisvo, who performed a mental health assessment on Veronica two days prior to her death, told a coroner she witnessed the 37-year-old vomit three times in just seven minutes, forcing her to cut the evaluation short.
"She was very polite and cooperative, but she was physically struggling. She could hardly sit down and she was vomiting," Ms Chisvo said.
"When I saw her lying on her bed, I asked if she was able to sit up for me. She said, 'No miss, I feel horrible'.
"I could tell she was physically compromised at the time."
Ms Chisvo recommended Veronica be kept in the prison's medical centre ward due to the severity of her symptoms and asked fellow psychiatric nurse Karen Leadbetter to check on the woman overnight.
She told the inquest she later found out that recommendation had not been carried out.
"When I came in the following day, I spoke to Karen and asked her if Veronica had been seen. She said yes, she had seen her," Ms Chivso said.
"When I checked the records there was no record made by Karen to confirm she'd seen Veronica.
Ms Chisvo said prior to leaving for the day, she also completed a verbal handover with the night nurse over Veronica's withdrawal symptoms, and requested that a follow-up mental health assessment take place the next day.
Nurse hits out at 'dismissive' doctor
This week, the inquest also heard from registered nurse Stephanie Hills, who was present when Veronica was first medically assessed.
Ms Hills told the coroner she had suggested sending the woman to hospital the day she arrived at prison, but was overruled by the prison's treating doctor, Sean Runacres, who told her he would make the decisions, and she was "just a nurse".
On Thursday, Dr Runacres rejected claims he had failed to properly examine Veronica before her death, labelling Ms Hills a "liar" who was "alarmed easily".
But he conceded he had made several errors in Veronica's medical assessment form, including failing to record she was experiencing heroin withdrawal and omitting she had a medical history.
Ms Chisvo told the inquest Dr Runacres often disregarded her opinion when it came to patients.
"This is difficult for me to say … I don't know whether this is just my personal relationship with Dr Sean," Ms Chisvo said.
"He's not a doctor you want to hand over what needs to be done … he's almost dismissive and not wanting to listen to what you have to say.
Ms Chisvo also rejected claims that the severity of Veronica's condition was unknown at the time of her assessment.
"I am not a medical doctor, but I could tell she was not well," she said.
"You couldn't miss it."
The inquest also heard from registered nurse Mark Minett who conceded there was likely a nursing plan in place for Veronica, but that he could not remember being told to observe her condition the day before her death.
Both Ms Chisvo and Mr Minett expressed their condolences to Veronica's family during the inquest.
