Bacchus Marsh births probe: Medicos quit as dozens called to answer allegations

EXCLUSIVE: DOZENS of doctors, midwives and nurses have been called to answer allegations over a scandal at the Bacchus Marsh hospital’s maternity unit.

Dozens of doctors, midwives and nurses have been called to answer allegations over a scandal at the Bacchus Marsh hospital’s maternity unit. Picture: Nicole Garmston

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AUSTRALIA’S biggest-ever health investigation has called dozens of doctors, midwives and nurses to answer allegations over a scandal at the Bacchus Marsh hospital’s maternity unit.

The scale of the problems uncovered in the confidential probe, which continues, and the number of staff involved, dwarfs anything previously examined by authorities.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency opened investigations into 96 separate matters. Forty practitioners — 13 doctors, 23 nurses and midwives, and four others — were subjects of complaints.

Earlier independent inquiries had ruled 11 stillborn and neonatal deaths at Bacchus Marsh since 2001 could have been avoided.

The Herald Sun can reveal five former Bacchus Marsh medical staff have secretly surrendered their registrations as their roles in the tragic births have been examined.

“Immediate action”, which may include interim restrictions such as not treating patients until the investigations conclude, have been taken against a further five.

Conditions have been imposed on the registrations of a further six medical staff after failures were found in their performance, and six have received cautions.

Inquiries into 23 staff have ended; 17 still face scrutiny.

Five former Bacchus Marsh medical staff have secretly surrendered their registrations as their roles in the tragic births have been examined. Picture: Nicole Garmston

A dozen of the hospital’s most senior medical staff, including executives and clinical directors who were responsible for overseeing quality and safety, are at the centre of the most serious investigations.

AHPRA has refused to identify individuals involved.

But the Herald Sun understands former director of nursing Julia Meek and maternity unit nursing manager Mary Little are among those who joined the head of obstetrics, Dr Surinder Parhar, in handing in their registrations. Ms Meek and Ms Little could not be contacted on Thursday.

Neither AHPRA nor Djerriwarrh Health Services would say how many sanctioned medical staff still worked at Bacchus Marsh or elsewhere but said everything to protect patients had been done.

“In some cases, practitioners have completed training … and this has been sufficient to address the (Medical) Board’s concerns about their standards of practice,” AHPRA told the Herald Sun.

“The investigations … have been complex. They have involved examining many thousands of pages of clinical records, gathering information to identify the individuals who provided care, and establishing what happened and what should have happened.”

The Herald Sun understands the AHPRA investigations have raised questions about other tragedies apart from the 11 deaths.

It is understood serious errors in the way some pregnancies were handled have led to action against staff involved.

The Herald Sun understands some individual practitioners have been connected to up to six of the 11 deaths.

Djerriwarrh Health Service said on Thursday it had worked to overhaul the hospital since the Herald Sun revealed the scandal in October 2015.

“It now has robust, reinvigorated clinical governance processes, systematic training, continued professional development and strong leadership that ensures Djerriwarrh is a safe, secure and fully functioning health service for the people of Bacchus Marsh and Melton,” it said.

“There has (also) been significant investment in infrastructure and systems support totalling more than $30 million.”

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