The NSW Auditor-General's report reveals significant issues at Northern Beaches Hospital, including systemic failures leading to patient deaths and operational inefficiencies. The cost to taxpayers exceeded initial projections by more than double.
The report highlights several tragic cases:
These deaths prompted a community outcry and the implementation of "Joe's Law," which prohibits future public-private partnerships in similar situations.
The hospital's operating theatres operate on a limited on-call schedule from Friday to Sunday, contributing to delays in emergency care, as evidenced in the case of baby Harper.
A planned adolescent mental health facility was also shelved due to issues with the private provider, Healthscope.
The NSW government is expected to address the audit's findings and potential reforms are anticipated following the parliamentary inquiry into the hospital's safety and quality of services.
The audit raises serious concerns about the safety and effectiveness of public-private hospital partnerships, highlighting the need for improved oversight and accountability to prevent future tragedies.
The deal cost taxpayers $2.14 billion over the life of the contract, more than double the $1 billion figure publicised by health minister Jillian Skinner before the 2015 election.
After a shambolic opening in 2018 marred by industrial disputes, botched surgeries and equipment shortages, Skinner’s successor Brad Hazzard shelved plans to privately build and run five regional hospitals. A parliamentary inquiry later recommended an end to public-private hospital partnerships altogether.
Independent Wakehurst MP Michael Regan requested the audit after hearing a string of horror stories from residents, staff and patients.
A $7.5 million state-government funded plan to build a four-bed adolescent mental health facility was shelved when Healthscope could not guarantee they could open the unit “within the scope of the commitment”.
The backflip infuriated the family of 14-year-old Joshua Gill, whose death just days after being discharged from mental health treatment at the hospital sparked a community campaign.
Healthscope came under further scrutiny this year when Danny and Elouise Massa revealed their two-year-old son Joe had died in September after being left in an emergency department chair for 2½ hours despite showing clear signs of a life-threatening condition.
An internal investigation found serious individual and systemic errors contributed to his death, which is now the subject of a coronial inquiry, and led the government to outlaw future public-private partnerships under legislation dubbed “Joe’s Law”.
A parliamentary inquiry will further examine the safety and quality of services at the hospital, with public submissions closing next month.
Then, Leah Pitman and Dustin Atkinson lost their newborn Harper in February after Pitman suffered a placental abruption and the hospital failed to perform an emergency caesarean within the 30 minutes required under a category one call.
The hospital’s operating theatres operate under an on-call arrangement from Friday to Sunday, where surgeons and theatre staff are required to be within half an hour of the hospital. Pitman went into labour on a Saturday.
Healthscope has launched an investigation into the tragedy. The couple told the ABC’s 7.30 program on Wednesday that, in a meeting with senior staff, they were told it was not “economically” feasible to run a 24/7 theatre.
“If we drove half an hour down the street to Royal North Shore, Harper would be alive,” Dustin Atkinson told the ABC. “It’s purely the fact that we ended up at Northern Beaches hospital on the days that their theatre isn’t open 24/7 that cost our daughter her life.”
Health Minister Ryan Park and Treasurer Daniel Mookhey are expected to address the audit on Thursday morning.
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