Mackay Base Hospital condemned for toxic workplace, ‘systematic’ failures

The Health Minister said she was “deeply sorry” for the harm caused to the women and their families left devastated by their experiences at Mackay Base Hospital.

A toxic workplace culture and “systematic” failures throughout Mackay Base Hospital led to botched surgeries and inadequate care that left three babies dead and dozens of women physically and mentally scarred for life, an investigation has revealed.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath, handing down the independent report in a conference room within the hospital closed off to the public, was close to tears when describing the revelations as “damning” and said she was “deeply sorry” for the harm caused to the women and their families.

“No family should ever have to experience the devastation of the loss of a child and certainly not under these circumstances,” she said.

“Our health system can and must do better.”

The opposition, which had agitated for the investigation, described the situation as a “catastrophic failure” of Queensland Health that should never have occurred.

Investigators were tasked with looking at the hospital’s operations between July 2019 and October 2021, but found serious issues spanning back at least a decade.

The report made 122 recommendations – 47 of which have been implemented, while the rest have been accepted “in full or in principle” by the government for implementation “as a matter of urgency” within 12 months.

A total of 171 women came forward when the investigation was announced, with 84 ultimately being interviewed.

Health Minster Yvette D’Ath at the Mackay Base Hospital on Friday.

The report concluded there were “systematic failures at all levels throughout the organisation” of the hospital which allowed bad behaviour and poor practice to flourish.

There was a “high” incidence of intestinal trauma, or “hollow viscus injuries”, during obstetrics and gynaecology surgery at the hospital with 21 cases recorded in a year when a hospital of its size should record between one and no cases.

The deaths of three babies were linked to inadequate care at the hospital in the past decade.

There were “failures to thoroughly investigate or investigate at all” issues that came up, with concerns raised by doctors and midwives into the behaviour of consultants, practices and outcomes “dismissed by senior staff”.

And investigators found “further patient harm” could have been prevented if some of the women’s complaints had been “taken more seriously”.

“Many of these women have sustained lifelong physical and mental harm,” Ms D’Ath said.

“This finding is deeply distressing.”

The systems and processes designed to ensure the Mackay Hospital and Health Service board was briefed on emerging problems in the department also “failed”.

This was compounded by the “individual failings of some staff and Executive Leadership Team members”.

Mackay Base Hospital. Picture: Liam Kidston

Investigators found the issues identified spoke to a “problematic workplace culture at many different levels, with different contributors” – which unless identified and fixed similar problems, would “likely occur in future”.

Ms D’Ath confirmed four clinicians linked to the report no longer worked for Queensland Health “in any capacity” and had been referred to the Health Ombudsman.

A fifth medico had been on leave and recently tendered their resignation.

The Mackay Hospital and Health Service board has also been read the riot act by Ms D’Ath, who confirmed they have been sent a “show cause” notice.

They have until Friday, October 7 to convince the government why all nine of them should not be sacked.

Highly-respected senior clinician and Ramsay Health chief medical officer Dr Robert Herkes has been brought in as a “special clinical adviser” to oversee governance improvements within the hospital’s board.

The government has also launched a statewide “safety and quality improvement program” across Queensland’s public hospitals.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

A group of women who blew the whistle on the failings of the beleaguered hospital came to hear Ms D’Ath speak on Friday but ultimately watched a patchy livestream of the media conference on their phones after being denied entry.

The women, some of whom are now considering taking class action against Queensland Health, were later granted an impromptu private meeting with Ms D’Ath

She defended the move not to have the women in the room as a means to prevent them further mental trauma, and because it wasn’t appropriate to use them as “political props”.

Only 26 women so far, of the 96 that applied, have been considered eligible for compensation by Queensland Health.

And while applications to be considered for compensation closed on Friday, Ms D’Ath said the state would be “model litigants” and confirmed she was seeking advice on extending the timeframe.

Mackay Base Hospital. Picture: Liam Kidston

Shine Lawyers special counsel Sarah Vallance, who is in talks with two women who lost babies at the Mackay Base Hospital, said there must be full compensation paid to women and their affected family members who have suffered grievously due to the hospital’s failings.

And compensation amounts should not be decided through a “mysterious extrajudicial process in which Queensland Health has all the control and bargaining power”.

“It’s imperative the compensation pathway is transparent and affords due process to the women involved,” Ms Vallance said.

“Patients who were physically and psychologically injured as a result of the hospital’s negligence deserve compensation for medical expenses, loss of income, and pain and suffering.

“Anything less is not good enough.”

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said what occurred at Mackay’s hospital was a “catastrophic failure” of Queensland Health that “never should have happened”.

The state LNP have signalled they will be agitating for every women affected by the failures as the hospital to be provided adequate access to compensation and would “keep coming back until the system was fixed”.

What happens now?

Mackay HHS board given until October 7 to outline why all nine of them should not be sacked.

■ “Special clinical adviser” brought in to oversee improvements needed.

■ 122 recommendations made, 47 already implemented, the rest accepted in full or in principle by government.

■ Recommendations to be implemented within 12 months of Health Minister orders.

■ Statewide safety and quality improvement program launched to ensure all public hospitals across Queensland are up to standard.

■ Mackay HHS to hire 12 additional midwives.

■ Health Minister to return to Mackay shortly to hold forum with victims.