An inquest in Brisbane is investigating the death of newborn Thea Flaskett at Redcliffe Hospital, examining staff actions, medical procedures, and equipment use.
Background on Thea’s Case
Thea Ann Flaskett was born at Redcliffe Hospital late on September 10, 2023, and died at 4:17 a.m. on September 11, 2023, just four hours after her birth. A post-mortem revealed she had a congenital heart condition known as transposition of the great arteries, which had not been detected during pregnancy.
Her parents, Meg and James Flaskett, said they raised concerns about reduced foetal movement and growth issues in the weeks before delivery but felt these were not acted upon. They also reported problems in the birthing suite and delays during labour.
Emergency Calls and Clinical Response
Recordings played at the inquest revealed calls made by Redcliffe Hospital staff to the neonatal retrieval service. A liaison officer described the communication as difficult to follow, with limited details provided about Thea’s condition.
Specialist neonatologist Dr Pieter Koorts arranged for a retrieval team to be dispatched from Brisbane, which arrived at 2:05 a.m. with specialist equipment. He testified that he had enough information to initiate the transfer.
Paediatrician Dr Didier Tshamala told the court he arrived at 12:58 a.m. to find Thea already intubated and undergoing resuscitation. He said he initially thought she had a respiratory condition before realising more intensive care was required.
Equipment and Resuscitation Issues
Thea’s parents alleged that when their daughter was placed on a resuscitation trolley, staff discovered an empty oxygen tank and struggled to replace it. They also claimed there were delays in resuscitation, including disagreement among staff over whether Thea needed intervention.
Hospital representatives stated that oxygen supplies were stocked, equipment was operational, and any tank changes were performed according to clinical procedures. An internal review launched after the incident found no evidence of faulty equipment.
Missed Detection of Heart Condition
Thea’s 20-week morphology scan on May 5, 2023, did not detect the heart defect. Senior sonographer Craig Collins told the inquest ultrasound is not always reliable in identifying transposition of the great arteries, particularly when images are obscured.
Trainee sonographer Amanda Leddy, who was supervised during the scan, testified that she had optimised the images and would have raised concerns if she had observed any abnormalities.
Medical experts told the inquest that had the condition been identified, Thea’s birth would likely have been planned at a larger Brisbane hospital with cardiology services. However, they noted survival could not have been guaranteed even with immediate treatment.
Parents’ Perspective and Ongoing Proceedings
Meg and James Flaskett described the inquest as retraumatising but said they hoped it would provide long-awaited answers about their daughter’s death. They brought a framed photo of Thea to court as the proceedings began.
The six-day inquest is continuing, with further evidence to be presented by medical staff and specialists.
Published 14-Sep-2025
