Women's and Children's Hospital

The Hon. C. BONAROS (14:57): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Health and Wellbeing a question about the current Women's and Children's Hospital.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: Last month, parents Annabelle and Dave Oates made the brave decision to go public with the horror story involving their seven-year-old daughter, Audrey, at the hospital in the hope it would prevent other families enduring similar experiences. Members will recall that Audrey's appendix burst at the hospital while she waited 8½ hours for surgery after not being examined by a doctor for some six hours.

The hospital has rightly apologised and rightly launched an immediate internal investigation, we are told, after the incident on 1 March and told Audrey's parents that it would take 35 days. Nearly three months later, they are still waiting for answers from the investigation, with health authorities now telling the family they are embarking on a broader review, which is underway. In a letter to Annabelle and Dave, the hospital's nursing services director informed them that broader review, and I quote, 'aims to identify issues which may have contributed to Audrey's care and prevent reoccurrence'. My question to the minister is:

1. Why has the initial investigation been expanded in favour of a broader review?

2. Was the initial investigation extended due to other cases being uncovered in the hospital?

3. Do you think it's appropriate for communication from the hospital that the family only found out about the broader review when they themselves contacted the hospital for an update into the initial investigation?

4. Will the findings of that broader review be made public?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:59): I thank the honourable member for her question and reiterate the apology of the Women's and Children's Hospital and the government for the experience of the Oates family. As the honourable member said, the Women's and Children's Health Network, following an initial review into the circumstances surrounding the care of the child, decided to undertake a more detailed investigation. I have not been advised of the reason for that; no information has been given to me that would suggest that it relates to other cases.

I am told that the detailed investigation will further examine the incident and provide recommendations on actions to prevent or minimise the reoccurrence of a similar incident. Certainly I am not aware that the Women's and Children's Health Network had not provided an update to the parents and that they were advised of this review when they contacted the network, according to the information in the honourable member's questions, but certainly that may have been a timing issue. I certainly believe in all my experience that the Women's and Children's Health Network is very sensitive to the communication and care for their families and children.