Daniel Andrews to be transferred to Alfred trauma centre after ‘nasty fall’

Premier Daniel Andrews, who broke several ribs and damaged vertebrae in a “nasty fall” at a holiday home on the Mornington Peninsula on Tuesday morning, was to be transferred from a private hospital near Frankston to the specialist trauma centre at The Alfred hospital.

Mr Andrews, who landed on his back after slipping on wet stairs, was being treated at the Peninsula Private Hospital in Langwarrin and had a range of scans, but on Tuesday evening, after an MRI was assessed by specialists, it was decided to move him to The Alfred.

“This is a precautionary measure to ensure he has the most appropriate care available given the nature of his injuries,” a spokesperson for the Premier said.

Mr Andrews is expected to remain in intensive care for the next few days and will not return to work until at least next week, with Deputy Premier James Merlino stepping up as acting Premier.

A source close to the family said Mr Andrews was conscious on Tuesday afternoon and was visited by his wife Catherine but the remainder of his family was unable to visit him in intensive care because of hospital visitor restrictions.

Intensive care specialists said it was common for patients to be admitted to intensive care with broken ribs as a precautionary measure even if they were not considered extremely unwell, because of the risk that they might deteriorate quickly.

Statement from Premier Daniel Andrews

Early this morning, I was admitted to hospital after slipping and falling on wet and slippery stairs. A CT scan has revealed several broken ribs and vertebrae damage, and subsequent medical advice has recommended I remain in intensive care for the next few days.

Cath, the kids and I are extremely grateful to the Ambulance Victoria paramedics who showed such care and kindness to our family this morning, as we are to the clinicians who have taken care of me today.

Our warm and sincere thanks go to the many family members, friends, colleagues and Victorians who have sent messages of love and support throughout the day. Thank you.

I hope to be able to provide another update later this week. James Merlino will serve as Acting Premier while I recover over the next few days. For now, we’d like to ask that our family’s privacy is respected.

“If you have broken ribs you can have damage to the lungs underneath it [which can] put people’s breathing at risk,” Professor David Pilcher said.

“There is fairly well known pattern that people can look OK with broken ribs initially and then deteriorate over the first 24 and 48 hours, so that’s one of the reasons why we often bring them in to watch them.”

Dr Stephen Warrillow of the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society said an intensive care admission would also help make sure a patient’s pain was controlled.

He said chest and rib injuries could be incredibly painful, even without a punctured lung.

“That’s certainly something that an ICU is often well placed to get on top of because we can give just the right amount of pain relief, just the right amount of oxygen, a little bit of additional monitoring to make sure … that particularly in the initial period, that things are moving in the right direction.”

A spokeswoman for Mr Andrews said he had not been diagnosed with any additional injuries, such as a punctured lung.

Early on Tuesday morning, Mr Andrews was at the holiday home preparing to attend a press conference in Healesville, north-east of Melbourne, when he fell.

The injury brought an abrupt end to three days of leave over the long weekend that the Premier spent with his family on the peninsula.

Then-health minister Daniel Andrews with ICU director Carlos Scheinkestel during a visit to the Alfred Trauma Centre in February 2009.Credit: Melanie Faith Dove

He was taken to hospital for what his office initially said were “precautionary” X-rays.

In a statement Mr Andrews said that a CT scan subsequently revealed a number of broken ribs and “vertebrae damage” that would keep him in intensive care for the next “few days”.

“Cath, the kids and I are extremely grateful to the Ambulance Victoria paramedics who showed such care and kindness to our family this morning, as we are to the clinicians who have taken care of me today,” he wrote. “For now, we’d like to ask that our family’s privacy is respected.”

Melbourne orthopaedic surgeon John Cunningham was shocked to hear that Mr Andrews was in intensive care and said “in the normal course of events” it would be difficult to imagine him returning to full work duties “for some time to come”.

“I would say that given his age, if he has broken some ribs … he’s probably taken quite a fair tumble. In other words, he’s probably hurt himself more than he’s letting on,” he said.

“He’ll need a lot of analgesia [pain relief] and hopefully a lot of rest. Whether or not it’s managed operatively or non-operatively, I can’t really comment on.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison sent a text message to the Premier expressing support, according to his office, while other political and public figures have taken to social media to give their best wishes.

Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien said he wished the Premier a “speedy recovery”.

Victorian Parliament will sit next week and it is unlikely the Premier will return in time to attend. National cabinet will next meet on April 9.

Mr Merlino replaced Mr Andrews at a press conference to reveal the government was launching an inquiry into Indigenous disadvantage on Tuesday morning – a landmark announcement that was to be the Premier’s first public appearance since taking three days’ leave from Friday.

Mr Merlino acknowledged Mr Andrews’ absence at the start of the press conference and said the Premier had suffered a “nasty fall” at home.

Mr Merlino said he could not advise exactly when the Premier would return to work “but I know he’s fine and he’s getting some good care as a precaution”.

Mr Merlino takes charge with a decision pending over when Victoria will reopen its hotel quarantine program to international travellers after Mr Andrews blocked flights on February 14.

Quarantine workers have been told to prepare for international arrivals as soon as this Saturday and on Friday said he expected developments “soon”, although Mr Merlino said he had no announcements to make on Tuesday.

With Paul Sakkal