Call for critical action over decades of shameful data

Children aged four and under are dying at a higher rate than in any other state - and authorities have known about the distressing trend for decades.

Children aged four and under are dying at a higher rate than in any other state with a shocking catalogue of figures showing our smallest Queenslanders are being let down by the health system — and the shameful trend in mortality rates in the state has been known by authorities for two decades.

A fed-up pediatric consultant, with years of experience in dissecting child mortality figures, is blowing the whistle on the desperate need to expand intensive child health support programs, which have been developed in some Queensland locations, across the state.

Data shows both regional and metropolitan areas in the state are dragging behind other states.

“This trend in deaths has been obvious for 20 years and I feel I must speak out for more critical action. There are so many people in Queensland Health that are passionate about children’s health and they too would welcome more investment — an investment which would bring lifelong benefit,” the doctor said.

Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows that Queensland also has the nation’s worse infant mortality rate in major cities and is the worst state for Indigenous infant and child death rates, beaten only by the Northern Territory.

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“Things are equally as bad in cities and regions. We desperately need a program that offers child health nurses to guide parents for children up to the age of four. “Other states, like Victoria, do follow up care better than we do, with home visits.

“In Queensland parents must make appointments to see a nurse and sometimes those are hard to get. Struggling parents may have no car or no money for fuel and no incentive to go,” the researcher said.

The expert said that parents need help on water safety, sleeping safety and all areas of health in early childhood.

Queensland also has the worst Sudden Unexpected Death in infancy rate of all states and territories.

Queensland Health has responded by saying they have put more money into the Pepi-Pod program to rollout family education in safe infant sleeping with dedicated, portable sleep space pods.

“The State Government has announced Putting Queensland Kids First, which will build upon the First 2000 Days of Life and boost wellbeing for our children,” a Queensland Health spokesman said.

“A range of health measures will form part of that package and while they are being considered, Queensland Health will continue to fund provision of Pepi-Pods to mothers who need them.”

The spokesman said that the death of any child is a tragedy and health professionals around the state are dedicated to reducing preventable child deaths and are saving lives as a result.

“Some of the leading causes of mortality for young Queensland children over the last 14 years include car crashes and drownings. Another leading cause of death is SIDS.

“In 2009, there were 39 deaths due to SIDS and accidental suffocation in bed in Queensland and by 2022 that had dropped to 11. That’s thanks to the hard work and dedication of Queensland clinicians, in partnership with families who generously share their experiences to inform the continuous learning and improvements,” he said.

The pediatric consultant disagrees with these numbers.

“Children’s Health Queensland delivers world-class care to Queensland’s sickest and most injured children at the Queensland Children’s Hospital, and supports local health services to deliver pediatric care through a range of specialist statewide services,” the spokesman said.

The Queensland Maternal and Perinatal Council has begun analysing the rise in peri-natal deaths in Queensland over the past several years. They have indicated a significant proportion of this increase was due to data now capturing terminations of pregnancy since 2018.