Beds linked to deaths at Box Hill Hospital in Melbourne

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

Deputy Opposition leader Tanya Plibersek during a visit to Box Hill Hospital in Melbourne in April.

Two deaths at a major 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 nearly 400 beds after an internal investigation linked a rise in pressure injuries at the hospital to the beds.

Two patients who have died recently at the hospital suffered similar pressure injuries.

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

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

The state coroner is set to investigate and Victoria’s Health Minister Jill Hennessy said Eastern Health has 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 any lessons learnt will be shared across our health system.”

More than 10,000 patients have been through Box Hill Hospital since it reopened and 53 patients have been linked to bed issues.

Eastern Health say their investigation has not found a “definitive answer” for the pressure injuries which have spiralled ever since Box Hill Hospital opened 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 with possibly dangerous beds 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,” Eastern Health’s spokeswoman said.