01-07-2025
Doctors disagree about death of Tamworth mum Allyson Bailey
Two doctors have given conflicting accounts about the circumstances leading up to the death of a 42-year-old Tamworth woman.
Allyson Bailey was found unresponsive in a seclusion room at Banksia Mental Health Unit on July 7, 2020.
How the mother of three came to be transferred from intensive care to a nearby mental health unit is being examined at a coronial inquest that began this week.
An autopsy ruled Ms Bailey died from a combination of pneumonia and the effects of prescription drugs.
Her daughter, Sarah Potter, said she was determined to ensure her mother was remembered for who she was and not how she died.
"She was the best parent and I miss every part about her," Ms Potter said.
Ms Bailey allegedly abused prescription drugs and cannabis for most of her adult life following a horse-riding injury in her teens.
The inquest heard her often violent and unpredictable behaviour made it difficult for medical professionals to provide care.
Counsel assisting the coroner Emma Sullivan told the court Ms Bailey presented to Tamworth Base Hospital more than 50 times in the two years leading up to her death.
She told the inquest Ms Bailey was "screaming constantly and could not be restrained" when she arrived at the emergency department on July 5, 2020.
Tamworth Base Hospital's senior intensive care specialist, Guyon Scott, told the court Ms Bailey would have to be heavily sedated during these episodes as she posed physical harm to herself and those around her.
Dr Scott disputed suggestions that he medically cleared Ms Bailey's transfer to Banskia Mental Health Unit.
"I definitely do not recall it. It wouldn't be consistent with my documentation either," he said.
Dr Scott said the plan was not to medically clear Ms Bailey for transfer to Banksia until a psychiatric evaluation was performed.
"I didn't think [Banksia Mental Health Unit] could manage her without sedatives. I didn't know if that was possible," he said.
However, Ms Sullivan told the coroner multiple witnesses had stated Dr Scott told them she was clear for transfer.
One of them was intensive care specialist Andrew Clift, who was also working at the time of Ms Bailey's admission.
He told the inquest he had a "crystal clear memory" of Dr Scott's clearance via a telephone call.
"[Dr Scott] was clear on that, he was categorical," Dr Clift said.
Dr Scott told the court a phone call with Dr Clift "possibly" happened but said he could not recall it.
The court heard medical assessments were not able to be conducted on Ms Bailey when she was transferred to the seclusion room at Banksia at about 2:45pm on July 6.
Nearly 10 hours later, doctors saw Ms Bailey motionless and started CPR, but she was pronounced dead at 12:34pm.
Ms Potter said it was difficult to hear about her mother's last moments.
"I would choose her every time to be my mum, in every life," she said.
"[Because of her addiction], we had already prepared ourselves for losing her, we just didn't know how or when."
The 23-year-old, who is now a mother herself, said her mother's death had affected more people than just her family.
The court heard Ms Bailey had a "robust understanding" of her drug addiction and had taken steps to address it.
"Her driving motivation was her family and her children who she fiercely loved," Ms Sullivan told the court.
The coronial inquest continues.
