AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2003
NSW: Report slams emergency procedures at Sutherland hospital
A new report has put the New South Wales public health system under scrutiny -- this
time over the treatment of an infant who stopped breathing when taken to Sutherland Hospital
last month.
Five-month-old JARRAD WILLIAMS was taken to the southern Sydney hospital's emergency
department on November the 14th with severe coughing.
His mother SIMONE DEANE told staff her son had stopped breathing.
A report by South Eastern Sydney Area Health Service chief DEB GREEN found staff did
not respond with the urgency expected by the family of a young infant with choking episodes.
The report found the desk clerk, the first point of contact, was the only person who
spoke to Ms DEANE.
Ms GREEN's recommended all patients entering emergency be directed to the triage nurse,
who must always be the point of first contact.
The report also says guidelines for triage should be improved, clerical work staff
practices should be revised and the hospital should apologise to JARRAD's family.
It says no harm was caused to JARRAD, who's fully recovered from his illness.
AAP RTV jph/nf/rp
KEYWORD: PEDIATRIC (SYDNEY)
2003 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
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