Queensland police lodged an official complaint to a hospital in August about the treatment of an alleged teen rape victim who said she left the facility feeling “humiliated” without undergoing a full examination.
The Central Queensland child protection investigation unit complained to the hospital after learning of the girl’s alleged assault from her family.
Guardian Australia revealed on Thursday that the year 11 student, Tilly*, had said she left the hospital in tears in August after waiting three hours due to no trained staff being available.
Tilly said she was told to take photos of her injuries on her phone as there was no iPad available. She said she eventually left the hospital after the doctor appeared “aggravated”.
Jessica*, who attended the hospital with Tilly, reported the incident to police, who subsequently complained to the hospital.
“They [told us] that it was unacceptable and they didn’t want it happening to other victims,” she told Guardian Australia.
“They said because DNA evidence is only available for a certain period of time, they needed [an examination] done within a few days – the sooner the rape kits are done the better.”
Tilly said when police knocked on her door, she was hiding under her bed because she was traumatised and afraid after her experience with the hospital.
“I felt like I couldn’t even trust anyone from the government or the police because I was like, if the hospital can’t even help me, who’s going to help me?” Tilly told Guardian Australia.
“But the police were really good, they were nice and helpful and made me feel better.”
The police organised for Tilly to have a forensic examination several days later at a private clinic.
In parliament on Thursday, Tilly received an “unreserved apology” from the health minister, Shannon Fentiman, about her treatment by the hospital. The minister said the hospital had made a series of changes after Guardian Australia’s report.
The doctor who saw Tilly in August also contacted her via text message on Thursday morning asking if she wanted to meet face-to-face to “chat” and said the “big boss” would “like to apologise to you from the hospital”.
Tilly said she was “disappointed” that it took reporting by the media for her to receive an offer of an apology from the hospital, seven weeks after the last correspondence regarding her complaint.
A Queensland police spokesperson said the matter was not one they “would comment on for privacy reasons”.
“We’re unable to provide any information,” the spokesperson added.
The Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service did not reply on Thursday when asked by Guardian Australia about Tilly’s despair over the response.
In a statement provided on Friday, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service chief executive, Emma McCahon, said the “care provided in this instance did not meet the standards we strive to achieve”.
“Support is being offered to the patient and their family.” McCahon said. “I want to assure the community the Health Service immediately reviewed the care provided and taken immediate steps to reduce the risk of something like this happening again.
“This included strengthening notification processes, providing safe spaces for patients awaiting treatment and educating staff to ensure correct clinical pathways were followed.
“CQHHS is working hard to improve its response to sexual assault cases, including working closely with the Queensland Police Service.”
A Queensland Health spokesperson said the department would continue to work with hospital health services to “ensure victims of sexual assault receive a high-level of compassionate and trauma-informed care in line with legal and clinical responsibilities and the wishes of the patient”.
*Names have been changed
• In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org
