Jenna and Andre McGregor slam Mackay Base Hospital after death of baby Hugo

The distraught parents of a baby boy who died just four days after being born fear nothing has changed at an embattled Queensland hospital, despite a report detailing exactly what went wrong.

Distraught parents have slammed an embattled hospital for mismanaging the birth of their son, who died at just four days old.

A regional hospital is again embroiled in scandal after parents blamed them for a mismanaged birth that lead to their child’s death after just four days.

Jenna McGregor said Mackay Base Hospital staff attending to her during Hugo’s birth made comments like “‘I don’t know how this machine works, it’s not the same as where I used to work”.

She and husband Andre McGregor shared with 9News that a Queensland Health report into the incident revealed labour was “not likely to progress effectively without intervention”.

Andre and Jenna McGregor spoke to 9News slamming Mackay Base Hospital after their son Hugo died after just four days. Photo: 9News

Despite this, Ms McGregor waited six hours for an epidural and a further four hours until a Syntocinon drip was given to re-induce labour.

She finally was put under anaesthetic for a caesarean section, but Hugo was born suffering catastrophic brain injuries from a lack of oxygen.

He died in Townsville University Hospital’s intensive infant care unit four days later.

A Queensland Health investigation into Hugo McGregor's death revealed staff further staff failings. Photo: 9News

In late 2022, Mackay Base Hospital and Mackay Health and Hospital Service were the subject of a damning investigation revealing errors in obstetrics care that contributed to three infant deaths.

Mackay Hospital and Health Service CEO Susan Gannon said she had met with Mr and Ms McGregor to personally offer them her sincere condolences.

“My heart goes out to the McGregor family for their loss,” she said.

“Following the death of baby Hugo, the Mackay Hospital and Health Service commissioned an independent review as part of our open disclosure process.

Hugo McGregor died at just four days old after complications with his birth contributed to fatal brain injuries. Photo: 9News

“The outcome of this review has provided to the family, the Coroner and the Office of the Health Ombudsman (OHO).

“We will adopt any recommendations for improvement that may be made.”

Ms Gannon said MHHS had already acted on the recommendations of the 2022 review in improving training, clinical handovers, documentation, and communication.

Hugo’s death came six months after then health minister Yvette D’Ath demanded the health system “can and must do better”.

Yet the McGregors say it has not.

Andre, Jenna, and Hugo McGregor at Mackay Base Hospital. Photo: 9News

“There seems to be a sense of ‘there is enough people in the room’ ... with limited consideration for ‘are they the right people?’” the Queensland Health report stated, which found 34 failings in the incident.

“People should be made aware. We’re told there’s no difference in care from regional to cities and clearly that is not the case,” Mr McGregor said.

“Because the public are being lied to and deceived about the safety of maternity services in Mackay.”

“How many more babies need to die before they actually make a proper change and actually do what they say they’re going to do?” Mrs McGregor said.

Opposition Health Minister Ros Bates said Labor is still yet to deliver on new training for GP obstetricians in regional, rural, and remote areas, to allow maternity services previously closed to reopen.

“This is another example of Labor and Shannon Fentiman failing to follow through on an announcement,” Ms Bates said.

“Announcements won’t fix the Queensland Maternity Crisis and won’t help families forced to travel across Queensland to give birth safely.”

Questions were put to Ms Fentiman’s office.

A government spokeswoman said challenges in staffing rural maternity wards are not limited to Queensland.

“Returning a safe maternity service depends on the availability of highly qualified maternity staff, including those trained in obstetrics and anaesthetics, and despite our Government offering attractive incentives and paid training, unfortunately these specialist doctors and nurses are in short supply across the country, and the world,” the spokeswoman said.

“Queensland Health is investing more than $100m to enhance the level of maternity care statewide, including recruiting additional staff and expanding regional, rural and remote birthing services.

“The financial support being provided to 20 GPs and rural generalists to complete an advanced diploma program in obstetrics has been well received, with the first cohort of 13 trainees beginning their diplomas in February.”

Queensland Health was contacted for comment.

Have you had a bad experience in the maternity ward of Mackay Base Hospital? Reach out at [e-mail]

Originally published as Jenna and Andre McGregor slam Mackay Base Hospital after death of baby Hugo