SA Health miscalculated birthing due dates for more than 1700 pregnant women across the state

Mothers engulfed in an SA Health blunder that miscalculated due dates of their baby’s birth are still yet to know whether they have been adversely affected.

A major blunder in SA Health’s electronic records system has led to the miscalculation of due dates for more than 1700 pregnant women around the state.

SA Health has launched an investigation into their system – Electronic Medical Records (eMR) – which wrongly predicted the expected delivery days for pregnant women between November 2023 and June 2024.

The bungle has caused concerns for affected women, some of whom may have been induced into labour early based on the wrong date.

Women who are still during their pregnancy have been informed of the error, however many women who have given birth during the affected period have not yet been contacted.

SA Health chief executive Dr Robyn Lawrence said the miscalculations did not exceed more than a few days as doctors were able to rely on additional information such as a women’s menstrual cycle and ultrasounds.

SA Health CEO Dr Robyn Lawrence speaking at a doorstop at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Kelly Barnes

“The variations are typically a few days – as most people know when their last period was and we have the ultrasound – we’re not talking weeks and weeks of variation here,” she said on ABC Radio.

SA Health is half way through a review of medical records to identify if any patients have been negatively affected.

“This is obviously a large number, being 1700 impacted records,” Dr Lawrence said.

“What we can say though is that in all of the cases we’ve reviewed thus far – we’ve been through 50 per cent – we’ve not identified any issues for mums or their bubs as a result of this.

“We’ve started with the ladies who are still pregnant to make sure that we corrected their records first … and we will be reaching out to the (other) mums to let them know that their record was impacted.”

The check-up on mothers who have already given birth after being affected by the bungle will be completed in the next couple of weeks, however mothers are encouraged to call an established 24/7 hotline [phone]) if they are concerned.

The investigation will also probe the fault in the eMR.

“What we want to know and understand is whether we could identify the issue earlier and prevent it from happening again,” Dr Lawrence said.

“So we’re really interested in the eMR side about how this occurred in the first place, what we could have done to have identified it sooner and close the gap in the timeline.”

Dr Lawrence has issued an apology for the distress their error caused expectant parents.

“On behalf of SA Health, I apologise for the error, and any concern or inconvenience this may cause to those whose files were affected,” she told The Advertiser.

“The presentation of a woman and the child are always the first priority when clinical decisions are made.”

Health Minister Chris Picton said he has launched an independent review into the matter.

“I’ve asked Professor Keith McNeil, the Commissioner for Innovation and Excellence in Health, to independently review this electronic medical records issue,” he said.

“That’s expected to take several months and the findings and recommendations will be made public.

“Thankfully there has been no adverse outcome identified so far for any mother or baby.”

Opposition leader David Speirs believes this shows SA Health and it’s leadership incapable of looking after the people in our state.

“No one is safe from the mistakes, the mishaps, and the mess of SA Health under Labor,” he said. “From cradle to grave – this health system is letting people die.”

Mr Speirs called for both Mr Picton and Dr Lawrence to be sacked.