Allan govt shoots down probe into Vic health system failings that led to child deaths, serious injuries

A series of devastating child deaths and cases where patients died or were left with life-changing injuries resulting from care in Victoria’s struggling health system will not be probed by an independent watchdog.

A series of devastating child deaths and cases where patients died or were left with serious life-changing injuries resulting from care in Victoria’s struggling health system will not be probed by an independent watchdog after Allan government has shot down the call for an independent inquiry.

Amid rising concern from the state’s peak health body, the Liberal opposition moved a motion to set up independent inquiry that would delve into concerns over obstetric care and issues at various Victorian hospitals.

However, the state government has clapped back saying they won’t be lectured on safety and ruled out an independent investigation.

It comes after a motion was put forward by the Coalition calling for the government to appoint an independent investigation was passed in the upper house on Wednesday evening.

It pushed for a probe into deaths of patients that were never reported as sentinel events in regional hospitals.

It also called for the probing of the state’s healthcare safety office – Safer Care Victoria – which was set up in the wake of 11 avoidable newborn and stillborn deaths at the Bacchus Marsh Hospital.

The state’s healthcare safety office Safer Care Victoria — which was set up in the wake of 11 avoidable newborn and stillborn deaths at the Bacchus Marsh hospital.

The call came after the health care’s oversight agency comes after multiple reports about concerns that Victorian hospitals were failing to properly report and investigate potentially preventable deaths.

In March 2024, The Herald Sun revealed that there were concerns over seven cases at Latrobe Regional Health, where adverse outcomes continue to increase.

Months later it was revealed three baby deaths had occurred in just six weeks at a hospital raising alarm bells.

One case was reported as a sentinel event for investigation but hospital insiders warned adequate investigations into issues were not taking place despite Safer Care Victoria probing the cases.

In March this year, Victoria’s peak doctors’ group revealed it had been urging the state government for several months to act after SCV was left in the dark about cases of serious, sometimes fatal, issues in children’s care including cases at the renowned Royal Women’s Hospital.

Australia Medical Association’s Victorian branch warned the state’s health system still lacked “consistent oversight and reporting” of avoidable child death and harm.

The body warned that the current system relies on hospitals reviewing themselves and self-reporting any deaths to SCV.

Opposition health spokesman Georgie Crozier pushed for an independent inquiry to be set up.

Opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier pushed for the establishment of an independent inquiry. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The move was not supported by the state government, but was also not opposed by Labor in the Legislative Council.

“Only a fully independent inquiry can ensure proper oversight, investigation, and reporting of preventable deaths and serious harm to patients,” Ms Crozier said.

“Patients and their families, as well as healthcare workers deserve to have a system that is working.”

However, the state confirmed on Thursday it would not be calling an inquiry.

Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas said: “We won’t be taking any lectures on transparency from the Liberal Party who hid hospital data when they were last in Government.

“We launched SCV in 2017, and each year they release an annual report, including sentinel events data and analysis – this process did not exist until we came to government.

“We don’t need a grandstanding, non-binding motion to take action – we already have an independent body in Victoria that investigates every child death and have requested advice from SCV and the independent CCOPMM on how we can further strengthen the hospital reporting process.”

It comes after Premier Jacinta Allan in March conceded the government needed to do more to boost transparency in Victorian hospitals.