Reviews into three baby deaths over six weeks at Latrobe Regional Hospital

Three heartbreaking baby deaths have occurred in just six weeks at a hospital in regional Victoria, including one where an 18-month old was not given life saving antibiotics for hours.

Three heartbreaking baby deaths at a hospital in regional Victoria in just six weeks has raised alarm bells with whistleblowers warning the constant struggle to recruit qualified staff to the facility is putting young lives at risk.

An 18-month old girl with sepsis was not given lifesaving antibiotics for hours, and two newborns who died are among the cases that have caused concern at Latrobe Regional Hospital.

Hospital staff, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told the Herald Sun that on September 9, the toddler arrived at hospital before 2am, but with only a junior doctor on her condition was not identified and correctly treated.

It was alleged a senior doctor arrived hours later for the morning shift and ordered the small child be urgently transferred to a Melbourne hospital where she later died.

The matter was reported to watchdog Safer Care Victoria, however, an internal review carried out by the hospital immediately after the death found there was no fault with the care provided.

Whistleblowers told the Herald Sun that several staff involved were never interviewed for the LRH review.

Whistleblowers also alleged that units within the hospital, including obstetrics, were being ran without qualified staff on duty.

They called for the obstetrics unit to be downgraded and certain patients to be redirected to Melbourne hospital where possible.

Latrobe Regional Health. Picture: David Caird

In February, the Herald Sun revealed that LRH was offering to pay locum anaesthetists $7000 to $10,000 to fill key shifts to keep its surgery program operating. This was more than double the normal pay rate Victoria-wide.

Staff at the time had raised concerns over the treatment of seven patients, four of which had been ruled to have received adverse care by the watchdog and the hospital was ordered to implement changes.

In October, one of the two newborn deaths at LRH was reported as a sentinel event to SCV and is currently being investigated.

A sentinel event is when it’s believed adverse patient care has occurred and the death or serious harm is considered entirely preventable.

One hospital staff member told the Herald Sun, they were concerned internal reviews on the three baby deaths would be “swept under the carpet”.

“There’s no real investigations being carried out into these deaths,” they said.

“The government needs to step in and fix this.”

No details are publicly known about the second newborn death in October, but LRH said it would also be reviewed.

An LRH spokesman acknowledged the concern over the recent spate of child deaths.

“In the past two months, three children who received care at Latrobe Regional Health have tragically passed away,” they said.

“LRH offers its sincere condolences to those affected by these deaths.

“Providing safe care is LRH’s priority, and we review patient deaths or adverse outcomes in close consultation with Safer Care Victoria.

“As with many regional health services, from time-to-time LRH faces challenges in attracting staff, however we are working hard on recruitment and have been successful in onboarding a range of highly qualified practitioners, locally and from overseas. In particular, LRH currently has a full complement of specialist obstetricians and paediatricians.”

A SCV spokesman said: “Our heartfelt condolences and thoughts go to the families during this difficult time.

“SCV continues to work closely with Latrobe Regional Health to ensure the appropriate reviews are carried out.”

A Department of Health spokesman offered condolences to the families and said they were “working closely” with SCV “to review any complaints, and to understand and share any improvements that can be made across the system”.

Georgie Crozier said the allegations were concerning and called for an independent investigation.

“Under Labor Victoria’s health system is in crisis, and when a series of deaths occur the extent of the crisis is further exposed,” she said.

“These are tragic circumstance that need a thorough independent investigation.”

This is not the first time that child deaths have raised concerns at LRH.

The recent baby deaths is not the first time the hospital has been reviewed.

In March 2019, a baby died during delivery at LRH, with an internal review clearing medical staff of fault.

But later a coroner’s report identified unexplained head injuries as the cause of death.

A subsequent investigation carried out by SCV uncovered potential issues in staffing levels and abilities at the hospital.

At the time the cases also raised serious questions about the monitoring of hospital deaths and serious incidents.

Originally published as Reviews into three baby deaths over six weeks at Latrobe Regional Hospital