Scathing fallout from Women’s and Children’s Hospital equipment blunder as administration defends discourse

A hospital’s chief executive has been forced to defend the administration’s public disclosure in a confusing interview after unsafe surgical equipment was unknowingly used. See the timeline of events.

The exterior of the Women's and Children's Hospital in North Adelaide.

• Patients exposed to unsafe surgical equipment

Patients of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital have said they were disturbed to learn about an equipment blunder while the hospital’s chief executive has been forced to defend the administration’s public disclosure.

Dozens of children and female patients were put at risk during surgery after surgical equipment was stored in a humid room for more than a day, making it medically unsafe, authorities admitted on Monday.

A total of 38 patients had operations using equipment stored in unacceptable conditions.

In the fallout of the revelation, Women’s and Children’s Health Network chief executive Rebecca Graham appeared on ABC morning radio on Tuesday.

After an embarrassing mix-up which left presenters incorrectly believing WCH staff knew about the heightened risks of equipment before procedures were undertaken, it was eventually established that the hospital and staff only knew about the potentially compromised equipment after the fact.

When asked if the health network had been as up front as it should be when communicating to the families and public, Ms Graham said “absolutely.”

“In every statement we’ve made where we have talked about informing the families impacted we’ve referred to two lots of families – those who had their surgery postponed and those families impacted before we became aware in that 36-hour period.”

Women’s and Children’s Health Network chief executive Rebecca Graham said 38 patients had operations using equipment stored in unacceptable conditions. Picture: Supplied.

The hospital’s director of surgery, Dr Sonja Latzel. Picture: Neale Winter

However, ABC presenter Sonya Feldhoff interjected.

“I recall speaking to the director of surgery just 10 days ago, Sonja Latzel, who said that the only families that have been impacted – by my recollection – were the ones who had surgery postponed,” she said.

Ms Graham defended Dr Latzel comments and said her quotes that no patients had surgery with affected equipment related to a single day.

“It’s not correct to say that, that we have contradicted previous statements, the quote from Dr Latzel, she was speaking on Thursday the 13th of March, saying no patients yesterday (March 12) had had surgery using the affected equipment.”

It was not until inquiries from The Advertiser on Monday night that it was revealed 38 patients had operations using equipment stored in unacceptable conditions.

One mother of two toddlers – who asked to remain anonymous due to the ongoing appointments scheduled for her son – said she was disturbed to learn about the hospital’s equipment blunder.

“I can see some of the hospital wards are very outdated and just plain old,” she told The Advertiser.

“But no one told us that there were issues with the storage room impacting equipment.

“I understand it would be difficult to tell all the patients but we should be informed if they use infected equipment during operations … It’s disturbing that we aren’t informed actually.”

The mother said she believed building a new Women’s and Children’s Hospital next to the Royal Adelaide Hospital will minimise errors with the surgical equipment.

Opposition health spokeswoman Ashton Hurn said “the most disturbing aspect of this incident is the apparent initial confusion over whether any patients were impacted”.

“More broadly it also underscores the need for continued investment in the current Women’s and Children’s Hospital so that it doesn’t fall apart before the new hospital is finished in the next decade,” she said.

Originally published as Scathing fallout from Women’s and Children’s Hospital equipment blunder as administration defends discourse