Wednesday 28 September 2022 03:17 AM Firefighters forced to give Baby A CPR after prison nurse REFUSED found newborn ... trends now
Firefighters forced to give CPR to a newborn baby after a prison nurse declared her dead claimed she was still alive when they found her.
Prison nurse Georgina Melody, a New Zealand national new to Melbourne, had refused 'Baby A' first aid upon finding her unresponsive within a dedicated unit within Victoria's Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in 2018.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal shocked firefighters, who responded to the emergency before paramedics arrived, had found a pulse on the baby, who can only be referred to as 'Baby A'.
Prison nurse Georgina Melody left CPR on a newborn baby to firefighters because she deemed it was already dead
Prison nurse Georgina Melody covers her face in shame after leaving the Victorian Coroners Court on Tuesday
Prison guard Amir Gabalawi told a coronial inquest into the tragedy he saw Ms Melody use a stethoscope to check for Baby A's pulse before quickly announcing she could not be saved.
The inquest comes almost three years after an investigation by Daily Mail Australia exposed the tragedy - which was denied at the time by Corrections Victoria.
'In my view, the nurse had already determined that the child was deceased prior to paramedics attending and I did not witness any first aid assistance being administered,' Mr Gabalawi told the inquest.
'As the nurse was checking the baby, it seemed to me that she was shocked by the situation herself.'
Last week, Ms Melody was provided a certificate of indemnity by Victorian Coroner John Olle after she objected to voluntarily fronting the inquest into Baby A's tragic death on the grounds she could face disciplinary or civil action.
She continues to work as a registered nurse for Correct Care Australasia, which provides health services to more than 6,500 men, women, and young people in Victoria at all 13 of its public prisons.
Mr Gabalawi told the inquest Metropolitan Fire Brigade firefighters worked frantically to save Baby A.
It had taken firefighters just seven minutes to arrive at the prison gates upon receiving the emergency call.
'Whist preparing for the escort and kitting up, we heard an announcement over the radio that the MFB had found a pulse,' Mr Gabalawi said.
MFB firefighters (stock image) were forced to perform CPR on Baby A after a prison nurse refused to help her. They found the newborn still had a pulse
A bird's eye view of Melbourne's notorious Dame Phyllis Frost Centre. It houses some of Australia's worst female prisoners
Prison guard Janine Slater told the coroner she felt relief upon hearing Baby A was alive after Ms Melody refused to assist the baby.
'She appeared shocked and did not perform CPR on the child. I was surprised and distressed by this lack of action,' Ms Slater told the inquest.
'As I was preparing for the escort with prison officer Gabalawi it was announced that Baby A had a faint heartbeat.'
MFB firefighter Nigel Hill told the inquest prison staff had told him Baby A was already dead upon his arrival.
'Liaison officer directed us to the maternity unit for what was reported to be a deceased 5 month old,' he told the inquest.
Upon reaching the unit, Mr Hill noted the cold disregard prison staff appeared to have for Baby A and her distraught mother.
'On arrival mother was walking around unit cuddling wrapped baby, clearly distressed,' he stated.
'There were three prison officers in attendance with mother, but no guards were assisting baby or mother what so ever.'
Mr Hill claimed Baby A was still warm to touch and his colleague immediately began CPR despite assertions the child was dead.
By the time paramedics arrived at the scene it was too late and Baby A was pronounced dead at the scene.
Georgina Melody provided her evidence to the coronial inquest under the protection that anything she said could not be used against her. Unless it was a lie
Georgina Melody (centre) left the inquest surrounded by supporters, one of whom hurled abuse at a Daily Mail Australia photographer
Baby A was just 12 days old when she died inside the jail's dedicated 'Mothers and Children Units' in August that year.
The inquest heard Ms Melody was not asked to
