Police investigate baby Joe Massa’s death for Coroner

Little Joe Massa’s parents demanded answers about why their son died at Northern Beaches Hospital. Now, police have joined the investigation as the first step of a coronial inquest.

NSW Police are investigating the tragic death of two-year-old Joe Massa, who suffered a heart attack last year after being failed when his distraught mum sought care at Northern Beaches Hospital.

The investigation is the first step in a potential coronial inquest into the death, which parents Elouise and Danny Massa have been calling for.

Joe died in September last year following a misdiagnosis and critical delays in getting treated for his life-threatening but treatable condition.

The baby boy was suffering hypovolemia, with his body losing too much fluid.

The government has now committed to strengthening protocols allowing parents to escalate concerns about their child’s treatment if they feel something is not right.

Grieving parents Elouise and Danny Massa lost their young son Joe to alleged hospital neglect. Pictures Thomas Lisson/Supplied

That commitment came after Elouise and Danny Massa met with Premier Chris Minns and Health Minister Ryan Park this week.

Mr Park also wrote to Attorney-General Michael Daley requesting a coronial inquest.

That process has now begun, with NSW Police directed to investigate Joe’s death.

“Police have been directed by the NSW Coroner to investigate the death of a two-year-old boy from Sydney’s Northern Beaches in September last year,” NSW Police said in a statement.

“On Thursday 27th of February 2025, officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command launched an investigation under Strike Force Carlton into the death of the child at Sydney’s Children’s Hospital at Randwick.”

Joe died in Randwick after he was transferred from Northern Beaches Hospital, which is run by private company Healthscope.

Northern Beaches Hospital is under scrutiny after Joe’s death. Picture: Brendan Read

On Thursday, Healthscope bosses expressed their “deepest sympathy” for Joe’s parents.

“There were unacceptable failings in the treatment of Joe, and we are sorry that Joe did not

receive the care he deserved at our hospital,” former CEO Greg Horan and incoming CEO Tino La Spina said.

Elouise Massa said she was grateful to the NSW Government for ensuring an inquiry takes place.

“I have no doubt that the recommendations will put safeguards in our public hospitals to ensure that future preventable deaths of children do not happen again,” he said.

She said the investigation would be important for them as a family, but also for other parents – with the government already committing to strengthen safeguards.

The police investigation comes after a fresh tragedy at Northern Beaches Hospital last Saturday, when a newborn baby died in childbirth. A review into the circumstances of that death has now been launched.

Healthscope Chief Operating Officer told budget estimates that an early investigation had not uncovered any clinical failures.