Family agony as premmie baby Benson dies amid shortage of NICU beds in Queensland

Premier Steven Miles has denied there were no NICU beds in the entire state, despite a young pregnant mum claiming she was told there was no availability for her son who died in her womb.

A young pregnant mum desperate for her premature baby to be given a chance to survive claims she was told while she was in labour there were no NICU beds available in the entire state.

Two days later, tiny Benson Leslie died in his mother’s womb. He was 22 weeks and six days old.

Brianna Walong, 24, first arrived at Toowoomba Base Hospital on July 2 suffering severe stomach pains. Medical staff sent her home without examining her.

Benson Leslie died in his mum’s womb at 22 weeks and six days.

She would return eight hours later with dilated cervix and was rushed into surgery to try and stop the labour but it wasn’t successful and her waters broke.

Desperate for little Benson to survive she called Ryan’s Rule for immediate intervention by medical staff on July 4.

The following day, July 5, the family claims Brianna was told there were no neonatal intensive care beds available for Benson, which would have been vital to his chances of survival given he was between 22 and 23 weeks gestation.

Tragically, two days later a scan confirmed the baby had passed away.

Brianna Walong will never know whether the life of her baby could have been saved after she was told there were no beds available in the ICU at Toowoomba Hospital. Photo: Supplied.

Brianna is still so devastated by the loss of her son last month that Benson’s grandfather is sharing her story and the family are demanding answers.

“We are aware that the baby was very premature and he would have had a big fight ahead of him but we feel that no one wanted to give him a chance at life,” Mark Pomfrett, Brianna’s stepdad, said.

“Every roadblock was put in place. In what world in 2024 does a place like Queensland not have an intensive care cot for a baby? It is just gut wrenching how he was brushed aside.”

Premier Steven Miles said his information was that there were NICU beds available at the time and adequate staffing for them.

“Obviously this story is terribly tragic and my heart goes out to the family. I understand the minister has also written to the family,’’ Mr Miles said.

“I’m advised there were beds available. We have 138 NICU beds across the state.

“I’m not advised that (adequate staffing for the NICU beds) was a problem. Our systems are geared to ramping up to meet demand.’’

Mr Miles said he would continue to take advice from Queensland Health on what capacity was required.

He also said the clinical review which had been ordered into the incident would investigate claims Ms Walong was initially sent home without an examination after presenting to hospital with stomach pain.

He strenuously denied there was a problem with the work culture within Queensland Health, despite continued similar incidents.

Grieving grandparents Sharon Hall and Mark Pomfrett. Photo: Supplied.

“Queensland Health deals with thousands and thousands of people each day. From what I’ve seen first-hand their culture is one of taking care of Queenslanders,’’ he said.

“In any system of that size there are instances that need to be reviewed.’’

Following questions on the case from The Sunday Mail, Darling Downs Health acting chief executive Louise Van Every confirmed there would be a clinical review into what happened.

A Queensland Health spokesman insisted that there were NICU beds available but no explanation was given as to why Brianna was not offered a cot.

Earlier this year a Queensland boy was born at 22 weeks and six days and has since left the NICU and is now home with his family in Townsville.

According to Queensland’s clinical guidelines for the peri-natal care babies born at 20 to 22 weeks gestation have a 10 per cent chance of a good outcome if intensive treatment is provided, although life sustaining treatment should usually not be provided, according to the guidelines.

Babies that are 23 to 24 weeks gestation are given between 10-50 per cent chance of a good outcome. Life sustaining treatment is provided in consultation with the family.

“Benson was one day off 23 weeks when he died,” his grandfather said.

“As one day rolled into the next, that precious little unborn baby hung on, maintaining a fairly normal heart rate with no obvious signs of distress. But he couldn’t hang on any longer.

Our little Benson Leslie simply died in his mother’s womb.”

Brianna was herself a premature baby and was born with cerebral palsy. She has mild disabilities and had a support worker with her at the hospital.

There are 138 NICU cots in the state based at Townsville University Hospital, the Gold Coast University Hospital, the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and the Mater.

Obstetric sources told The Sunday Mail that due to union demands more staff are now required to man each bed in order to keep them open.

There will be a clinical review of Benson’s case. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli told The Sunday Mail that Brianna’s story was gut wrenching.

“This is a heartbreaking new low in the Queensland health crisis, families should never be turned away without the help they need. A NICU bed could have been the fighting chance they needed but instead their worst nightmare has become reality,” he said.

“This time is already challenging for families without the extra fear neonatal care won’t be available when it’s needed. This is the shocking cost of a decade of failure to resource and run our hospitals, lives have been needlessly lost and it must stop,” Mr Crisafulli said.

Ms Van Every said the HHS extended the deepest sympathies to the family of the baby.

“As an organisation, we are committed to ensuring each person who attends our facilities is treated with dignity, compassion and kindness. Toowoomba Hospital has highly skilled clinical staff who provide their expertise every day within the clinical capability of the facility,” she said.

“Darling Downs Health have met with the family and will continue to listen to their concerns.”