Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick pediatric cardiac services backflip: Low family share disbelief

At just 10 days of age, medical practitioners at the Sydney Children’s Hospital saved the life of Cooper Low. Now, his family are “furious” others may not have the same opportunity after a government backflip.

Cooper, Jess, Jersey and Peter Low.

At just 10 days of age, medical practitioners at Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick saved the life of Cooper Low after he suffered a life-threatening heart condition. Now, his family are “furious” others may not have the same opportunity after a NSW Government backflip.

Four years ago, full cardiac services were cut by the then-Liberal state government after the children’s cardiac department merged with Westmead.

In the recent state election campaign Labor politicians, including now-Health Minister Ryan Park and Coogee MP Marjorie O’Neill, campaigned to return the service and celebrated the Liberal Government’s decision in 2020 to return the service.

However, Mr Park recently sent a letter to senior clinicians saying medium-complexity surgery, including cardiac bypass surgery, would not return to Randwick.

Cooper contracted myocarditis – an inflammation of the heart muscle – 10 days after he was born, with his mum Jess and father Peter spending the next 176 days at Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick (SCHR).

Facebook post by Coogee MP Marjorie O’Neill, supported by Health Minister Ryan Park and federal MP Matt Thistlethwaite.

Ms Low said she was heartbroken that other families don’t have access to the same vital cardiac services afforded to her family.

“Sydney is far too big to have one comprehensive cardiac unit,” she said. “It breaks my heart … families that are coming in now, potentially won’t have the chance to take their kids home because those services are not available.

Cooper Low at Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick after he contracted myocarditis.

“Every other mum and dad, and family, should have that opportunity … it’s vital, it’ll save children’s lives.”

In wake of cardiac services at SCHR being cut in 2019, Ms Low and her husband led a petition to reinstate the unit gathering roughly 63,000 signatures.

“Without these services, he wouldn’t be here, so when we heard [about the cuts] we instantly wanted to get involved,” Ms Low said.

“It makes us furious that we’re even debating this, [the hospital] should have these vital services.”

Years after Cooper’s battle with myocarditis.

Intensive care and anaesthetic specialist Dr John Awad said the hospital receives 75 per cent of the state’s critically ill children that need to be transported to a pediatric ICU.

Ms Low said health conditions in children can spiral out of control in a matter of moments and if certain services, like the full cardiac program, aren’t available it can be deadly.

“A kid can come into a hospital with a breathing problem … but if it manifests into a heart problem, [doctor’s may not] have the services there to be able to help that child,” she said.

“Nor is that child going to make it in time [to go to Westmead] … it’s going to affect other areas in the hospital [in the long-term].”

Debbie Issi – whose eight-year-old daughter benefited from the Randwick specialist services after suffering severe influenza – has recently launched a new petition calling for Mr Park to return the cardiac program, which has reached almost 15,000 signatures.

It was referenced at Randwick Council’s ordinary meeting, where all but three Labor councillors voted in favour of writing to Mr Park asking for full cardiac services to return.

It sparked a rescission motion, led by former mayor Dylan Parker, attempting to block the letter from being sent. On Monday, councillors voted overwhelmingly against the move.

Randwick mayor Philipa Veitch said it was a “big relief” and confirmed she would also attempt to organise a meeting with Mr Park.

A spokesman for Mr Park highlighted the Minister’s position of listening to clinical experts and did not answer if a meeting with the Randwick mayor would take place