A Sydney hospital on the Northern Beaches, where two children have recently died, is under investigation for its management practices. The New South Wales Auditor General’s report highlights critical shortcomings in the hospital’s operations, suggesting that a public-private model may be jeopardizing safety standards and patient outcomes. The hospital was the site of two tragic incidents, including the death of toddler Joe Massa, who collapsed after waiting for three hours in the emergency department, and newborn Harper Atkinson, whose death was partly attributed to a long wait for surgery.
In response to these deaths, Premier Chris Minns has announced a halt to public-private healthcare partnerships, emphasizing that hospitals shouldn’t operate based on profit margins. The auditor’s report is calling for Healthscope, the operator of Northern Beaches Hospital, to rectify issues regarding safety, quality systems, and reporting.
Healthscope has expressed its willingness to hand control of the hospital back to public hands, which is currently being considered by the government, who have stated they won’t provide any financial compensation to Healthscope for the buyout. Amidst this turmoil, the financial struggles of Healthscope, a Canadian-controlled company, have raised questions about the long-term viability of its contract, which doesn’t end until 2038.
Parents, like Leah Pitman, whose newborn died, have spoken out about the delays in emergency care, with Pitman expressing her distress over a wait for an on-call team for her daughter’s emergency caesarean section. The minister for health, Ryan Park, is reviewing the weekend on-call arrangements and acknowledged the need for proper healthcare systems to be in place.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/17/sydney-hospital-where-two-children-died-recently-is-at-risk-of-failure-scathing-report-finds
