Northern Beaches Hospital chiefs to answer questions on hospital’s ‘failings’ at inquiry
The first hearing into the Northern Beaches Hospital inquiry will see a who’s who of top health officials give evidence, as well as union chiefs and community campaigners.
Manly
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- Hospital inquiry: ‘Mental health patient dies after discharge’
- Sedated patient slips off operating table
Top hospital bosses and union chiefs will give evidence at the opening hearing of the parliamentary inquiry into the new $600m Northern Beaches Hospital on Monday.
Already inquiry submissions published online have revealed allegations that a mental health patient may have died unnecessarily, while others have been given inaccurate cancer diagnoses.
The head person leading the inquiry is Greg Donnelly who said the first hearing would see a number of “significant” stakeholders and organisations represented.
Earlier this year a cancer patient had the wrong part of his bowel removed.
Just last week the Manly Daily reported that a sedated 27-year-old woman had “slipped” off the operating table.
Labor’s Shadow Health Minister Ryan Park said there had been a“litany of failures” since the hospital opened in October and that the people of the northern beaches had been “dudded”.
Northern Beaches Hospital’s top brass will appear before Portfolio Committee No. 2 — Health on Monday morning.
They include the Interim Chief Executive Officer Richard Royle, Dr Simon Woods, Interim Medical Director, Stephen Gameron, State Manager — Hospitals (NSW/ACT), Healthscope and Andrew Spillane Director of Finance.
Dr Nigel Lyons Deputy Secretary, Health System Strategy and Planning, from the NSW Ministry of Health and Deborah Willcox Chief Executive, Northern Sydney Local Health District will also speak.
In the afternoon leaders from several unions including the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation of NSW, NSW Nurses and Midwives’, Member Industrial Services Team and Health Services Union NSW will answer questions.
Others that will appear include Parry Thomas Chairman, Save Mona Vale Hospital Community Action Group, which has run a long campaign to reinstate acute emergency services at Mona Vale, which were lost when the new privately-run hospital opened.
Phillip Walker from the Friends of Mona Vale Hospital and Helena Mooney Co-founder, Friends of Northern Beaches Maternity Services will also give evidence.
Mr Donnelly said the number of submissions the committee had received justified the inquiry..
He said those appearing at the hearing will be sworn in, before receiving questions from the committee members.
Go to manlydaily.com.au on Monday to read our rolling coverage on the inquiry as it unfolds.
