A psychiatric nurse who assessed Veronica Nelson two days before her death in custody has told a coronial inquest the Yorta Yorta woman should have been more closely monitored.
Bester Chisvo first spoke with Veronica when she was brought to the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in Melbourne on December 31, 2019.
Veronica appeared to being going through significant heroin withdrawal at the time and was repeatedly vomiting, Ms Chisvo told the Coroners Court on Friday.
During their brief consultation, Veronica was unable to sit up in bed, Ms Chisvo said, and was polite and cooperative but disorientated when asked questions.
The psychiatric nurse told the court Veronica did not disclose or appear to have any mental health concerns, although it was obvious she was physically unwell.
Notes presented to the court showed Ms Chisvo recommended custody officers keep Veronica in the medical unit overnight so she could be monitored.
In her evidence, Ms Chisvo said she also told the nurse on duty that Veronica needed to be medically monitored while in the unit.
But there was no record of that happening, Ms Chisvo told the court.
When she returned to work on January 1, the nurse told Ms Chisvo she had seen to Veronica but there was no notation of such monitoring on Veronica's file.
In her earlier evidence, the psychiatric nurse said she expected a doctor to follow-up and address the concerns she raised in her report.
But when questioned by Erin Gardner, a lawyer for Correct Care, Ms Chisvo conceded the doctor had already assessed Veronica and left for the day prior to her consultation.
Ms Chisvo told the court despite any earlier assessment or treatment plans from the doctor, it was clear Veronica was still unwell when she spoke to her.
"You could tell this woman was physically unwell and she needed further intervention," Ms Chisvo said.
Veronica died in her cell on January 2, 2020, from complications of Wilkie's syndrome, in a setting of withdrawal from heroin.
Evidence in the coronial inquest into her death will continue on Friday afternoon.
