Ashleigh Hunter: Heartbroken parents of sepsis victim say WA’s healthcare system needs changes

The grieving parents of a young woman — who died from a deadly infection after being ramped outside Royal Perth Hospital — have reflected on the Coroner’s inquiry findings, saying their daughter died an “extremely traumatic” and “manifestly inhumane” death and that WA’s healthcare system still needs changes.

Geraldton woman Ashleigh Hunter, 26, died when she was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital with a deadly sepsis infection and meningococcal on December 27, 2019.

But overcrowding inside the hospital’s emergency room and a lack of available beds meant her ambulance was left ramped outside and she ultimately suffered a painful death after was finally triaged into the emergency room.

Her death was probed in an inquest held in November last year.

Delivering the scathing findings this week State Coroner Ros Fogliani established that the 26-year-old was fundamentally let down by the health system.

Speaking for the first time publicly after their daughter’s inquest findings were released, the 26-year-old’s parents Kim and Kellie Hunter

Ashleigh worked as a “blossoming” and “passionate” accountant, who worked alongside her father as well as volunteering at the cat shelter.

“Like every 26-year-old she made her mistakes but she was a good person who gave back to the community. She wasn’t a burden to anybody,” Mrs Hunter said.

“She was a valuable member of the community with much more give.”

Mr Hunter said the family was disappointed the healthcare system had not changed in the four years since her death.

“She died a lonely horrible death,” Mr Hunter said.

“Nobody in this state deserves that . . . Now, the system hasn’t changed a lot since Ashleigh passed away four years ago. It’s gotten worse in a lot of cases.