Investigations are under way following the death of a 72-year-old man at a Sydney hospital about an hour after a woman allegedly switched off the gas main at the facility in an act of sabotage.
Vanessa Moulton, 42, was arrested after allegedly cutting off water and gas mains and activating fire hoses at Kareena Private Hospital at about 12.20am on Tuesday, then scaling a wall to access a restricted area at Sutherland Hospital and switching off the facility’s gas main about an hour later.
NSW Police forensics at Kareena Private Hospital in Caringbah, Sydney on Tuesday.Credit: Sam Mooy
Moulton was arrested about 4am on Tuesday, and charged with two counts of public nuisance, two counts of entering the premises without a lawful excuse, sabotage, destroying or damaging property and a breach of bail.
She was also charged with allegedly tampering of a fire alarm and trespassing at a hostel in Darlinghurst on Monday, and will appear at Sutherland Local Court on Wednesday.
Moulton briefly appeared on screen at Sutherland Local Court on Wednesday morning after declining the assistance of Legal Aid.
“No thanks,” she said when magistrate Pilar Lopez repeatedly offered the chance to discuss the “very serious” matters with a lawyer.
Gas mains at Kareena Private Hospital were targeted on Tuesday morning.Credit: Nine News
“I didn’t do it. Just that I didn’t do it,” she said in response to questions about what she would like to tell the court.
Moulton was refused bail to re-appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on Christmas Eve.
Moulton admitted to breaching her bail by not reporting to police on Monday, telling the court that she got the dates mixed up.
Police were told that the man died at Sutherland Hospital at 2.30am, about one hour after Moulton allegedly switched off the gas mains at the facility.
Health Minister Ryan Park described the incidents as “highly dangerous” and “deliberate sabotage”.Credit: Sam Mooy
Speaking on Tuesday, Health Minister Ryan Park described the act as “highly dangerous” and “deliberate sabotage” that stopped the flow of medical gases for patients “who are very, very unwell”.
Park also said the alleged vandalism had “no impact” on patients, but was forced to clarify his comments on Wednesday.
“I have since been made aware that a patient passed away during that period,” he said. “This morning, I phoned the family to extend my deepest condolences.”
A death certificate was issued, but the death has now been referred to the coroner.
Sutherland Hospital switched to portable oxygen and air under contingency plans triggered on Tuesday morning, and had restored the gas systems about two hours after the alleged vandalism.
Fences guarding critical medical gases at Sutherland Hospital.Credit: Nine News
There are 360 beds at Sutherland Hospital, which provides critical services spanning emergency care, cancer treatment, a birthing unit, and respiratory and geriatric care.
On Wednesday, Premier Chris Minns said he was “obviously concerned” by the death, vowing it would be “fully investigated”.
“We want to make sure the [patient’s] family has as much information as we have and that we communicate it to them as soon as possible.”
Minns said a “full security audit” would determine how the alleged offender gained access to the gas main, suggesting it “may well have been the case that it was believed no-one would be so callous, or so cruel”.
“We know we’re obliged to protect that critical infrastructure, and I want to assure patients and families across NSW Health, as well as the workers who rely on that infrastructure to work, that we’re going to do everything we can to keep them safe, even in the face of someone allegedly committing a despicable act.”
Health Services Union secretary Gerard Hayes said hospital security guards, who are represented by the union, were seeing an increase in violence and complex mental health presentations, particularly in emergency departments.
“The security officers have very little power … not only do they have to look after patient and staff security, they have to look after the grounds,” Hayes said. “You can’t really look after the grounds when you’re struggling to look after the hospital.”
A Ramsay Health Care spokeswoman confirmed there had been no impact to patients from the alleged tampering of mains water and non-medical gas supply at Kareena Private Hospital.
“All services were quickly restored with minimal disruption and no impact to patient care,” she said.
A South Eastern Sydney Local Health District spokesperson said it was investigating the death and would carefully consider any findings and recommendations from the coroner’s investigation.
The alleged vandalism is being investigated as a mental health incident.
More to come
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