Bacchus Marsh Hospital patient numbers continue to drop

PATIENT numbers continue to drop at Bacchus Marsh Hospital as the health service attempts to rebuild its reputation following a string of potentially avoidable baby deaths in its maternity unit.

PATIENT numbers continue to drop at Bacchus Marsh Hospital as the health service attempts to rebuild its reputation following a string of potentially avoidable baby deaths in its maternity unit.

Djerriwarrh Health Services’ latest figures reveal it treated almost 20 per cent fewer patients than expected last year, following a similar drop in 2015-16.

Despite forecasting and being budgeted to treat 5130 patients in 2016-17, the health service only saw 4162 patients.

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Dr John Ballard speaks, flanked by Minister Jill Hennessy on October 16, 2015. Picture: Hamish Blair

As a result, 19 per cent of the hospital’s budget remained unspent at the end of the financial year, though the Department of Health has agreed not to recall the funding due to “financial challenges” as Bacchus Marsh undertakes “significant reforms”.

Djerriwarrh administrator Dr John Ballard said urgent action had been undertaken to address failures inside and outside the hospital following the Herald Sun ’s revelations of 11 suspect baby deaths in August 2015, and efforts were now focused on rebuilding public confidence.

Dr Ballard said every aspect of the hospital — from staff training, to equipment, governance and oversight — had been overhauled.

“It is a safe hospital — that was a problem, it is fixed,” Dr Ballard said.

“The problem now is about rebuilding the public confidence, the loss of which is an understandable consequence of the adverse event.

“There is a truckload of new equipment, there is new leadership and very robust clinical governance systems.”
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Opposition health spokeswoman Mary Wooldridge said Premier Daniel Andrews had to do more to build public trust in Djerriwarrh Health. Picture: Steve Tanner

As well as a drop in patients attending, Dr Ballard said many higher-need pregnancies were now being referred to specialist centres, as they should have been prior to 2015.

But Opposition health spokeswoman Mary Wooldridge said Premier Daniel Andrews had to do more to build public trust in Djerriwarrh Health.

“When our health system is already under significant pressure, especially during peak periods, we can’t afford to have hospital beds sitting empty.

“Taxpayers are spending $3.5 million propping up this health service because the Andrews Labor Government hasn’t ensured the public are confident to use it.”

The fallout from the baby deaths scandal also continues for staff two years after 11 potentially avoidable deaths first came to light in October 2015.

A midwife who worked at Bacchus Marsh during the baby deaths recently had conditions placed on her registration by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency as it continues its investigations.

The lengthy probe has also cleared three doctors of any concerns in recent months, but Herald Sun understands several matters are still being examined, concerning staff who no longer work at the hospital.

In total, five Bacchus Marsh practitioners have had immediate action taken against them to protect the public, seven have had conditions placed to limit their medical registration, seven have been cautioned and 24 medical workers have been cleared of any issues despite having matters raised over them.

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