The state’s most senior obstetrician is investigating the death of a newborn baby after an emergency caesarean section at Northern Beaches Hospital.
The state’s most senior obstetrician is investigating the death of a newborn baby after an emergency caesarean section at Northern Beaches Hospital.
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By Angus Thomson
February 27, 2025 — 2.40pm
The state’s most senior obstetrician is investigating the death of a newborn baby after an emergency caesarean section at Northern Beaches Hospital.
Associate Professor Peter Thomas, the hospital’s chief executive, confirmed the death while providing evidence to a budget estimates hearing at NSW parliament on Thursday.
“I’m limited in what I can say due to confidentiality, but there was an emergency caesarean section for the mother of the child who was transferred to North Shore Hospital,” Thomas said when asked about the report in the Daily Telegraph. “The provisional risk assessment … has been done and hasn’t highlighted any key deficiencies as far as I’m aware.”
Health Minister Ryan Park said Healthscope had informed him they were reviewing the circumstances leading to the baby’s death.
The state’s chief obstetrician will also conduct a review, Park said.
“My deepest condolences are with the parents and family of this baby following their heartbreaking loss,” he said.
Representatives of Healthscope, which operates Northern Beaches Hospital under a controversial public-private partnership, were called to give evidence following the death of two-year-old Joe Massa in September.
An internal investigation into Joe’s death found serious individual and systemic failures in the hospital’s management of his rapidly deteriorating condition.
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During the hearing, Thomas said Joe should have received intravenous (IV) fluid as repeatedly requested by his mother.
Outgoing chief executive Greg Horan accepted there had been a loss of confidence in the hospital following Joe’s death, and extended his condolences to his parents Elouise and Danny, who appeared in the public gallery.
“I cannot imagine the grief you are going through right now,” he said. “I’m also sitting here accountable for what happened at Northern Beaches and making sure the actions going forward … make sure that we take the lessons out of this tragic incident.”
More to come.
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Angus Thomson is a reporter covering health at the Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via Twitter or email.
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