Child's death prompts parliamentary inquiry into hospital

Following a request from NSW Health Minister Ryan Park to NSW Parliament Public Accounts Committee Chair Jason Yat-Sen Li, a parliamentary inquiry into the safety and quality of health services provided by Northern Beaches Hospital will be conducted.

The request follows the death of two-year-old Joe Massa, who died after receiving care at the hospital. In a statement on 27 February, the CEO of Northern Beaches Hospital operator Healthscope, Greg Horan, acknowledged, “There were unacceptable failings in the treatment of Joe, and we are sorry that Joe did not receive the care he deserved at our hospital.”

The inquiry’s scope will stretch back to the hospital’s commencement as a privately operated facility from October 2018 and will consider incidents at the hospital, how the hospital responded and the extent to which it implemented changes prompted by those incidents. How the hospital supports patient and carer escalation, including the Recognise, Engage, Act, Call, Help is on its way (REACH) protocol — an initiative which was found to be insufficiently accessible in the case of Joe Massa — will also be looked at, as will the adequacy of processes and systems designed to prevent adverse events, and staff capabilities and standards.

“We made a commitment to Elouise and Danny [Massa] to undertake the necessary reviews to understand how they and their son have been let down, as well as to learn what changes need to be made to prevent such a tragedy from occurring again,” Park said. “I am grateful to the Massas for their generosity in time and spirit in working with us to honour Joe’s memory.”

In 2019, the hospital was similarly the subject of another parliamentary inquiry. The 2019 inquiry was into its management and operation, while the safety and quality of health services at the hospital will be the focus of this upcoming inquiry. The upcoming inquiry will also have regard to the findings of the 2019 inquiry — in particular, the extent to which findings and recommendations from that inquiry have since been implemented.

“I understand the strong community interest in this matter, and I am confident the committee is well placed to undertake this important inquiry,” Li said. “I am determined to get this inquiry underway as quickly as possible, but I also want to get it right.” 

The opening of submissions as well as hearing dates will be announced “in due course”, Li said.

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