Blacktown Hospital: 20 obstetricians threaten to leave after four newborn deaths

Health Minister Brad Hazzard has revealed reports into the shocking death of newborn babies at a Western Sydney hospital called for increased resources months before staff threatened a mass exodus. SEE THE FINDINGS HERE

Blacktown Hospital.

The shock death of several newborn babies at a Western Sydney Hospital has sparked threats of a mass exodus of senior medical staff.

Blacktown Hospital saw as many as 20 obstetricians raise the alarm following the tragic death four babies in 18 months at the Western Sydney Local Health District hospital. It is charged with delivering to more than 4200 babies every year.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said reports obstetricians had quit were unfounded, revealing the group of senior clinicians had given the department an ultimatum of February next year before they resign in protest.

NSW Minister Health Brad Hazzard speaks to the media during a press conference at the Nepean Hospital redevelopment, in Penrith, Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

“What they have indicated is that they have some concerns about staffing and other issues,” Mr Hazzard said.

“There are management decision that have to be made on a day-to-day basis on a whole range of specialities including obstetrics.”

The Health Minister said he has instructed the ministry that if there is an unexpected death of a baby “I want to know about it”, also revealing to NewsLocal a “root cause analysis” conducted following the death of a baby earlier this year called for increased resources and staffing.

Mr Hazzard said he was given the findings of that investigation four weeks ago.

Western Sydney Local Health District chief executive Graeme Loy said senior clinicians at Blacktown raised concerns with management six weeks ago, resulting in intense negotiations and discussions around resourcing.

Western Sydney Local Health Chief Executive Graeme Loy

“We have an enormously skilled workforce, and our senior consultants work really hard and are wholly qualified and capable,” he said.

Mr Loy said a Clinical Excellence Commission report, conducted in response to a series of concerns issued by staff had been handed down, however, no recommendations had been met.

“A couple of areas have been flagged at a high level,” he said. “and those are ones we are starting to work our way through — resourcing is one of the things that is talked about.”

THE GREAT DIVIDE — SYDNEY’S HEALTH CRISIS

Part One: south west patients funded $800 less per person than Sydney residents

Part Two: south west patients forced to travel hours for treatment

Part Three: leaders are calling for a new hospital at Aerotropolis

Part Four: 24,000 new medical students needed to fight west’s growth

Part Five: Patients waiting 300 days for surgery in south west Sydney

Part Six: south west teens shock youth suicide numbers as specialist staff numbers revealed

Part Seven: Claims health department removed beds from state’s busiest EDs

Part Eight: Where mini-metro hospitals will be built across Sydney

Part Nine: Kids enduring 18-month wait times for paediatric services

Part Ten: Hospital staff reveal hospital horror stories in calls for funding

Part Eleven: ‘Young doctors committing suicide over workloads’, inquiry hears

Part Twelve: NSW Government delisted land earmarked for hospital

Part Thirteen: NSW Health failed to assess hospital development projects

Part Fourteen: Liverpool, Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital redevelopments: bid to fast track hospital openings

Shadow Health spokesman Ryan Park said obstetricians in the newly redeveloped facility were “concerned of the level of staffing and resources in their own hospital”.

“We have a situation where the Minister is asleep at the wheel,” he said. “Additional resources and additional staff are needed to deliver those babies in a safe way.”

Shadow Health spokesman Ryan Park hit out at the government. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

While Blacktown state Labor MP Stephen Bali said the most “joyous moment in any parent’s life is ending in tragedy” at Blacktown Hospital due to horrifying shortfalls.

“We need the right support for the people of Western Sydney,” he said.