WCH officials pledge to keep doctors stationed in paediatric ICU

Officials have pledged to end a 40-year tradition at the beleaguered hospital, after a series of stunning blows sparked parliamentary hearings.

Four babies died waiting to be flown to Melbourne for cardiac surgery two years ago while two infants had to be resuscitated at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital while waiting to be transported to Melbourne for heart surgery last year, a parliamentary committee has heard.

Officials also pledged to have doctors be present full time at the paediatric intensive care unit, ending a 40-year tradition of allowing the unit’s doctor to work on other duties elsewhere in the hospital.

Obstetrician Associate Professor John Svigos from the hospital advocacy group WCH Alliance told the hearing the two babies who survived went into cardiac arrest but were revived.

WCH Alliance member John Svigos. Picture: Tait Schmaal

WCH chief executive Lindsey Gough. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“Both these babies were waiting to be transferred to Melbourne,” Prof Svigos said. “Unfortunately, both suffered cardiac arrest on the spot while waiting for the surgeon to fly over from Melbourne to stabilise the babies to be able to transfer them back to Melbourne for cardiac surgery.”

He said another baby died earlier this year after surgeons unsuccessfully “cobbled” together a cardiac procedure.

The hearing followed revelations by The Advertiser the hospital’s paediatric ICU has lost its teaching accreditation and the Neonatal ICU’s accreditation is on probation pending an assessment.

Prof Svigos said there had been no repercussions as a results of the four deaths and “we never found out why those babies died.”

He called on the committee to push for a cardiac surgery unit in the planned new WCH.

Prof Svigos said while current trainees will be able to count their time in the paediatric ICU as part of their training, loss of accreditation puts 2024 students in jeopardy and they may already be looking at interstate options.

Dr Gavin Wheaton. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

He likened the WCH to a “developing country’s hospital” and claimed chief executive Lindsey Gough had been nicknamed “the ghost” by staff because “people can’t actually lay a hand on her”.

Ms Gough told the committee WCH management is committed to working to regain full accreditation for the paediatric and neonatal ICUs.

WCH executive director of medical services Gavin Wheaton confirmed there were times when the on-duty doctor left the paediatric ICU to attend to duties elsewhere.

“That has been the arrangement for 40 years,” he said, noting: “There was no indication that there was going to be any impact on the accreditation. The college has made a clear recommendation that we should have two doctors at all times rostered to the intensive care unit. We accept that recommendation and we will be acting on it.”