‘Urgent’ treatment needed for children after Townsville University Hospital audiology failures

A clinical review into the care of young children at Townsville’s audiology clinic has found that the hospital ‘failed’ a number of children, some needing urgent care. Questions remain over the staff involved.

Generic images of Townsville university Hospital. Picture: Evan Morgan

Townsville University Hospital has handed down the results of a clinical review into the failings of care provided to around 400 children who were treated by its audiology department, finding at least 20 needing ‘urgent’ follow up care.

Townsville Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Officer Kieran Keyes said a decision was yet to be made about two staff members stood down at the start of the review and that the organisation was “deeply sorry” for the failings.

“We acknowledge the stress for the families involved, because of the importance for hearing for anybody’s life, particularly a developing child,” Mr Keyes said.

“We remain deeply sorry for the distress that this has caused for the families and we’re working with each of them individually.”

Mr Keyes said of the 341 babies who received diagnostic testing through the audiology department since January 1 2020, 59 had been identified in the review as needing follow-up care.

Townsville Hospital and Health Service CEO Kieran Keyes

“Of the 59 children, 20 required urgent follow-up care, while 39 required non-urgent care,” Mr Keyes said.

“Our concerns are equally shared for children in the cochlear implant program or children who we haven’t correctly diagnosed when they were referred to us for audiology testing.

“For those children, the solutions will be unique to them and can be anything from hearing aids, medication to correct the underlying cause of hearing loss or potentially cochlear implants as well.”

Sree and Venkatesh Aithal

Of the children who had their cochlear implants programmed by the TUH audiology department, another 59 children had been identified as not meeting clinical standards, with 14 of them requiring an urgent recall.

Mr Keyes said all children requiring urgent care had been seen by staff since the review had begun, but that there could still be a long wait for answers as to how they’ve been impacted.

“It’s impossible to know at this early stage what the lifelong impacts might be,” Mr Keyes said.

“Certainly for the children that we brought back to follow up with – for both the cochlear implants and the broader audiology program – our concerns were valid that we had let those children down.”

Mr Keyes said it was still too early to determine what would happen to the two key staff members involved.

Sree and Venkatesh Aithal were stood down in April.

“They remain stood down at this time and will do so until such time as we conclude this process,” Mr Keyes said.

A five-person panel of health experts and other officials will now conduct an independent investigation of the hospital’s audiology services as well as broader clinical governance.

It’s findings are anticipated in October.

LNP leader David Crisafulli said it was still unclear what the terms of reference of the review would be.

He said there were nearly 60 families who had been though something that they should never have had to.

“For the case of many, that will continue,” Mr Crisafulli said.

He called for the government to be open and honest about if the report can “drive the change that is needed”.

Families with concerns about their child’s care can contact 4433 7902.

Originally published as ‘Urgent’ treatment needed for children after Townsville University Hospital audiology failures