Three bosses of Northern Beaches Hospital operator Healthscope have been grilled over the failures that led to the death of two-year-old Joe Massa.
CEO Greg Horan opened the hearing at NSW parliament with an apology to Danny and Elouise Massa, Joe’s parents.
“My deepest condolences to the Massa family for the loss of your baby boy Joe… and for the care that they did not receive at our hospital,” he said.
“We are going to take lessons from the tragic incident and ensure that it does not happen again.”
The couple watched on as the board was grilled over the preventable death of their son.
Healthscope bosses said their staffing capabilities were normal and their triaging process was on par with the rest of the state, but they take “full accountability” for the preventable death.
Chief medical officer and chief operating officer Peter Thomas said staff not providing Joe with an IV drip after his mother asked three times was “a mistake”.
“Retrospectively, it would’ve been appropriate to give baby Joe fluids earlier in his admission,” Thomas said.
The board was also questioned about the death of a newborn baby at Northern Beaches Hospital during an emergency caesarian over the weekend.
They said they were investigating, but a preliminary assessment “hasn’t highlighted any key deficiencies”.
The couple are fighting for the implementation of Joe’s Rule, which would enshrine a parent’s right to be heard during the treatment of their children.
The couple is also advocating for the public-private partnership at Northern Beaches Hospital to be scrapped.
Joe’s Rule, when implemented, will be introduced across NSW emergency rooms.
