Guardian's Burden: Raymond Wheatley's Inquest

0:00It's April 22nd, Sydney news today starts now, AI-powered and ready. A coroner's inquest is digging into the death of Raymond Wheatley, a 54-year-old man from Wagawaga who passed away on December 6th, 2021. He'd been admitted to the hospital over a week earlier with low hemoglobin, anemia, and internal bleeding. After three blood transfusions, he felt better and checked himself out to grab cigarettes and a jacket. As he was out, he'd been under a court-appointed public guardian since 2020, handling his health and lifestyle choices. This week, the inquest heard from that guardian who admitted juggling 40-60 cases across New South Wales during the year he oversaw. Wheatley. He said active and complex files likely pulled his focus away from the case. Family couldn't make it in person, but joined by a video link, sharing heartfelt statements. Wheatley's former partner called him patient, caring, and a wonderful father. Grateful for their kids. His two children said he was the best dad, and they miss him every day, loving him always.

1:03Witnesses revealed the guardian made big decisions without chatting with Wheatley, like installing a key box outside his home and approving NDIS. Requests. Wheatley wasn't engaging with services or meds from 2020 to 2021, so contact went through a mental health team. The guardian conceded in hindsight, he should have pushed harder to connect directly. The inquest pause now set to resume next month as they pieced together what went wrong in the system.