The NSW Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee is set to conduct an inquiry into the safety and quality of health services provided by Northern Beaches Hospital, after a request by Health Minister Ryan Park.
Minister Park wrote to the Committee’s Chair, Jason Yat-Sen Li, requesting the inquiry following the tragic death of two-year-old boy, Joe Massa, after receiving care at the hospital.
“We made a commitment to [Joe’s parents] Elouise and Danny to undertake the necessary reviews to understand how they and their son have been let down, as well as to learn what changes need to be made to prevent such a tragedy from occurring again,” said Minister Park.
“To that end, I’ve asked the NSW Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee to conduct an inquiry into the safety and quality of health services provided at Northern Beaches Hospital.
“I am grateful to the Massas for their generosity in time and spirit in working with us to honour Joe’s memory.”
The scope of the inquiry will stretch back to the hospital’s commencement as a privately operated facility from October 2018.
It will consider incidents at the hospital including those the subject of serious adverse event reviews (SAERs); how the hospital responded; and the extent to which it implemented changes prompted by those incidents.
It will look at how the hospital supports patient and carer escalation, including the Recognise, Engage, Act, Call, Help is on its way (REACH) protocol – an initiative which was found to be insufficiently accessible in the case of Joe Massa.
It will also examine the adequacy of systems and processes designed to prevent adverse events, as well as the staff standards and capabilities.
“I understand the strong community interest in this matter, and I am confident the committee is well placed to undertake this important inquiry,” said Mr Li.
“I am determined to get this inquiry underway as quickly as possible, but I also want to get it right.
“We will announce the opening of submissions as well as hearing dates in due course.”
The hospital was similarly the subject of another parliamentary inquiry in 2019, which looked at its operation and management.
The Government has confirmed the upcoming inquiry will focus more on the safety and quality of health services at the hospital, while also having regard to the findings of the 2019 inquiry, in particular, the extent to which findings and recommendations from that inquiry have since been implemented.
