A Sydney couple whose child died after multiple failures at Northern Beaches Hospital are demanding a system that enshrines the right of parents to be heard.
Elouise and Danny Massa are calling for Joe’s Rule to follow a successful interstate model after the death of Queensland boy Ryan Saunders.
Information about the program is displayed as a poster in NSW emergency departments with four steps for parents to follow if they believe something is not right.
The final step is calling a hotline for a clinical review.
“No one knew about it, I didn’t know about it, I’m not sure if the medical staff knew about it,” Mr Massa said.
In 2007 Queensland toddler Ryan Saunders died in hospital from a strep infection after being misdiagnosed with mumps.
For his family, the story of Joe Massa is deja vu.
“They felt like they weren’t being listened to,” Ryan’s uncle Grant Kerlin said.
“At the end of the day, parents know what their child is feeling.”
“I’ve spoken to people who have used Ryan’s Rule in Queensland to get better care for their children over the years,” Kerlin said.
“I’ve heard even overseas they’re adopting very similar methods.”
There are now calls for greater awareness in NSW.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park is asking NSW Health to urgently review the accessibility and visibility of the existing REACH protocol in hospitals.
“Ryan’s death hasn’t gone unnoticed and his death can help other families,” Kerlin said.
Northern Beaches Hospital operates as a private-public partnership.
Mrs and Mr Massa are calling for the hospital to be transitioned into public hands.
The couple has launched the website Action for Joe and has invited other couples to share their stories.
A Northern Beaches Hospital spokesperson told 9News staff will be making QR codes available in the waiting room so parents can have greater access to information about REACH.
