The NSW Government has announced a parliamentary inquiry will be conducted into Northern Beaches Hospital following the tragic death of two-year-old Joe Massa.
Elouise and Danny Massa brought their two-year-old son Joe to the Northern Beaches Hospital emergency department on the morning of September 14 after he had been vomiting throughout the night.
Joe allegedly received inadequate treatment at the hospital and died after suffering several health conditions including a high heart rate, severe loss of fluid, and a cardiac arrest three hours after arriving at the emergency department.
Minister requests inquiry into Northern Beaches hospital after death of Joe Massa
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park wrote to the Committee’s Chair Jason Yat-Sen Li on Friday requesting an inquiry into the quality of health services provided by the hospital.
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.
NSW Government plans to rename REACH ‘Joe’s Rule’
Last week, the NSW Government announced that the rapid response program will be renamed “Joe’s Rule” following Joe’s death.
The parliamentary inquiry will also examine the adequacy of systems and processes designed to prevent adverse events, as well as the staff standards and capabilities.
“We made a commitment to 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,” Minister Park said.
“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,” Minister Park stated.
Chair, NSW Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee Jason Yat-Sen Li expressed he understood the community interest in Joe’s death, stating that he was “confident” the committee was “well-placed to undertake this important inquiry.”
“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,”” Yat-Sen Li said in a statement.
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