Parents lodge complaint against Epping’s Northern Hospital after baby dies

The heartbroken parents of a nine-month-old baby who died following treatment at Epping’s Northern Hospital have lodged a complaint against the hospital.

Epping parents Nirpal Singh and Darlene Kaur have lodged a complaint against Northern Hospital following the death of their son earlier this month. Picture: Rob Leeson

The grief-stricken parents of a nine-month-old baby who died following treatment at Epping’s Northern Hospital have lodged a complaint against the hospital, saying the tragedy has robbed them of trust in Australia’s healthcare system.

Zehaan Singh died at the Royal Children’s Hospital on May 5 after being transferred there following two days of treatment for an unknown illness at the Northern Hospital.

Zehaan’s father Nirpal Singh said his son’s death had “totally destroyed” the family’s lives.

Through tears Zehaan’s mother, Tavleen Kaur, recalled how her son changed from “a very calm, happy baby” to blue and limp within hours.

The family took Zehaan to the Northern Hospital on May 2 after he vomited twice.

“We waited one and a half hours in the emergency ward and my son was continuing to vomit,” she said.

Nirpal Singh and Darlene Kaur have lodged a complaint against Northern Hospital following the death of their nine-month-old son. Picture: Rob Leeson

“I was concerned ... because he hadn’t had milk or eaten all day and I told the staff he was dehydrated but they just said to follow the natural process.”

Mrs Kaur alleges her pleas for Zehaan to be given sodium and fluids following a seizure and blood test, which showed he had low sodium levels, went ignored until 7am on May 3.

“It (the sodium) was stopped though at 11am because the doctor advised putting in a nasogastric tube to give him milk instead,” she said.

Mrs Kaur claimed Zehaan was sitting on her lap on the evening of May 3 when he deteriorated further.

“He did a little vomit, his body was getting blue and he was stiff and I understood what was happening in that moment, he was dying and I started shouting for help,” she said.

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Staff took about 20 minutes to resuscitate Zehaan, however it took a further 3-4 hours for him to be transferred on life support to the Royal Children’s Hospital, Mr Singh said.

“I know that he was already gone before he arrived at the Royal Children’s Hospital,” Mrs Kaur said.

Zehaan’s life support was turned off on May 5.

Mrs Kaur said the family moved to Melbourne from India with the belief the healthcare system would be first class.

Mr Singh said the family would now fight to ensure the same thing didn’t happen to someone else.

“We lost our baby and our lives got completely shattered.”

The family has lodged a complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services for the time it took for Zehaan to receive care, alleged lack of adequate monitoring and failure to give Zehaan fluids quickly enough, Mrs Kaur said.

They are calling for specialists to be available at the Northern Hospital at all times and a Royal Commission into Australia’s emergency wards.

Northern Hospital spokeswoman Taylor Woodward said the hospital extended sincere sympathy to Zehaan’s family.

“There can be nothing more tragic than the loss of a child,” Ms Woodward said.

“We have commenced an extensive review of the care received, with independent clinical experts.

“The matter has been referred to the coroner, as such, we cannot make any further comments at this time.”