Baby dies during childbirth in latest Northern Beaches Hospital tragedy

Health authorities are investigating the death of a newborn baby after an emergency at Northern Beaches Hospital.

The tragedy emerged as senior officials from the public hospital’s private operator were grilled over the death of another child, two-year-old Joe Massa, in September, which an investigation found stemmed from serious systemic and individual failures to identify his rapidly deteriorating condition.

Senior representatives of Healthscope, the operator of Northern Beaches Hospital, at NSW budget estimates on Thursday. Credit: Edwina Pickles

The baby died on Saturday, Northern Beaches hospital chief medical officer Peter Thomas confirmed at a NSW budget estimates hearing on Thursday.

“I’m limited in what I can say due to confidentiality, but there was an emergency caesarean section for the mother of the child who was transferred to North Shore Hospital,” Thomas said when asked about the initial report in the Daily Telegraph. “The provisional risk assessment … has been done and hasn’t highlighted any key deficiencies as far as I’m aware.”

Thomas later clarified that an emergency caesarean section was called but not performed, as the baby had already been delivered.

Health Minister Ryan Park said in a statement that the hospital’s operator, Healthscope, had informed him it was reviewing the circumstances leading to the baby’s death.

The state’s chief obstetrician will also conduct a review, Park said.

“My deepest condolences are with the parents and family of this baby following their heartbreaking loss,” he said.

Representatives of Healthscope, which operates Northern Beaches Hospital under a controversial public-private partnership, were called to give evidence following the death of two-year-old Joe Massa in September.

An internal investigation into Joe’s death found serious individual and systemic failures in the hospital’s management of his rapidly deteriorating condition.

Danny and Elouise, the parents of Joe Massa, at the Thursday hearing.Credit: Edwina Pickles

During the hearing, Thomas said Joe should have received intravenous (IV) fluid when repeatedly requested by his mother.

Outgoing chief executive Greg Horan confirmed the hospital would undertake an independent review of the emergency department’s broader performance.

Horan accepted there had been a loss of confidence in the hospital following Joe’s death, and extended his condolences to his parents Elouise and Danny, who appeared in the public gallery.

“I cannot imagine the grief you are going through right now,” he said. “I’m also sitting here accountable for what happened at Northern Beaches and making sure the actions going forward … make sure that we take the lessons out of this tragic incident.”

Tino La Spina, who appeared alongside Horan at the hearing, will step into the chief executive role at Healthscope from next month.

In a statement, the Massa family said it was “heartbreaking” to hear Healthscope’s evidence, some of which conflicted with their own recollection of events.

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