Hospital replaces 400 beds after questions over deaths

Two deaths at a leading Melbourne hospital may have been the result of suspect hospital beds, an investigation has found.

Box Hill Hospital. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Two deaths at a leading Melbourne hospital may have been the result of suspect hospital beds, an investigation has found.

Box Hill Hospital has been forced to contact more than 50 ­patients and replace 400 beds after an investi­gation linked a rise in pressure injuries to the beds.

Two patients who died at Box Hill Hospital suffered similar pressure injuries. The state coroner is to investigate the deaths.

The Weekend Australian has been told by Eastern Health, the service that runs the hospital, that those patients had a series of other health issues that could have ­resulted in their deaths.

“There have been no deaths ­directly relating to pressure injuries,” a spokeswoman said.

Victoria’s Health Minister Jill Hennessy said Eastern Health had the situation under control. “We take quality and safety in our hospitals very seriously. That’s why Safer Care Victoria and Eastern Health acted immediately,” she said. “Safer Care Victoria will continue to work through this matter with the ­patients who have been affected and their families, and ensure lessons learnt will be shared across our health system.”

Eastern Health said its investigation had not found a “definitive answer” for the pressure injuries, which have increased since Box Hill Hospital opened in Melbourne’s east after a $450 million redevelopment in October 2014.

“As soon as we realised there was an issue ... we investigated all common causes of pressure injuries, as well as our clinical practices, to try to determine the cause of the increase,” an Eastern Health spokeswoman said.

“Since implementing these ­extensive further measures in February, Eastern Health has not identified any incidences of serious pressure injuries related to these beds.”

The hospital has also used other measures to assist patients, including fitting them with silicone dressings, boots, and extra pillows to protect their heels.

“We take pressure-injury prevention and management very ­seriously and will be contacting all of these ­potentially affected ­patients and their families to make them aware of this issue,” the spokeswoman said.