Mackay Hospital fiasco: Minister to visit, says LNP shares blame
The Health Minister says she will hold another open forum for victims of Mackay Hospital, while levelling some of the blame at the Opposition.
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Health Minister Yvette D’Ath will travel to North Queensland next week to meet women affected by distressing issues at Mackay Base Hospital’s obstetrics and gynaecology unit.
Ms D’Ath on Wednesday offered an “unreserved apology to the women who have received inadequate clinical care because of the failures of this unit”.
“Their courage in speaking out will not be in vain,” she said.
“Next Tuesday I will visit Mackay to attend a women’s forum hosted by Dr Helen Brown, acting deputy director-general of Clinical Excellence Queensland.
“The forum will provide impacted women with another opportunity to share their stories and to be updated on the pathways to compensation or further clinical advice which remain open to them.”
A damning report into the Mackay Hospital and Health Service was published late last month, with Ms D’ath issuing a show cause to the HHS board.
The report found substandard care had led to the deaths of three babies, with some women left with lifelong injuries as a result of inadequate service.
Twenty-six women have been offered a “pathway to compensation”, with more than 170 coming forward to detail distressing interactions with the service and the hospital.
Under sustained questioning by the Opposition during Wednesday’s parliamentary sitting, Ms D’Ath apologised for the experience of the women, but also said the LNP also had cause to apologise.
“The Leader of the Opposition (David Crisafulli) referred to the deaths of three babies,” she said.
“Those deaths are absolutely tragic.
“I expect the Leader of the Opposition to stand up and unreservedly apologise as well, because one of those deaths happened in 2013 under the Opposition’s watch.
“Please do not come in here and try to play politics with what is a very serious matter.
“Every government has to take responsibility for what happens under their watch.”
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