Labor’s health spokesman Walt Secord is calling for an independent investigation into Wollongong Hospital’s treatment of a young boy who was misdiagnosed and sent home, only to end up on life support.
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Three-year-old Warrawong boy Hamza Said was turned away from the hospital’s emergency department early on December 5 after being treated with Panadol for a virus, when he actually had life-threatening sepsis.
His parents Sheima Morsi and Amro Said believe if they hadn’t returned to the ED that evening their son would have died. ‘’He’s our only son,’’ Ms Morsi said. ‘’I needed to speak on his behalf, but I couldn’t be heard.’’
She said the evening’s test results spurred staff into action, with Hamza placed on life support and airlifted to a Sydney hospital due to septic shock causing his vital organs to start shutting down.
Ms Morsi and Mr Amro are maintaining a bedside vigil beside Hamza at Randwick children’s hospital, where he will spend Christmas.
Wollongong Hospital has confirmed it is investigating the incident, however Mr Secord is calling on Health Minister Jillian Skinner to launch an external review.
‘’This is every parent’s worst nightmare,’’ Mr Secord said, ‘’and is symptomatic of a health system in crisis. This is the human cost of the Baird government’s health cuts.
‘’I’m calling on the minister to launch an immediate external independent investigation into this – there’s no point having the hospital investigate itself.’’
Mr Secord said ED staff were working ‘’with one hand behind their back’’ due to the demand on the department, and lack of resources.
‘’Wollongong Hospital has the dubious distinction of the longest waits and the most under pressure ED outside of Sydney,’’ he said.
In the 12 months to September 30, 2016, there were almost 63,000 presentations to Wollongong hospital’s ED.
A hospital spokesperson said while the ED was busier than ever, initiatives were in place to improve the timeliness and quality of care.
These included a ‘fast track’ area for patients with less serious injuries and a short stay unit for those not requiring hospital admission. The ED would soon begin trials of a new triage and rapid assessment system.
Ms Skinner told the Mercury: ‘’An investigation is underway and I have full confidence in it.’’
Ms Morsi said recent tests showed Hamza’s bacterial infection was slowly abating.
