Labor demands Jillian Skinner explain deaths at western Sydney maternity unit
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Version 0 of 1. The New South Wales health minister, Jillian Skinner, is under renewed pressure with the opposition demanding she explain two deaths at a western Sydney hospital’s maternity unit. The NSW Labor health spokesman, Walt Secord, says health district board minutes indicated the deaths last year at Fairfield hospital were connected to resourcing problems. A midwifery clinical nurse consultant had to be transferred for three months from Liverpool hospital and an anaesthetist and 24-hour paediatric registrar had to be brought into Fairfield after the incidents. The hospital has not revealed the identities of the victims or how they died but both cases have reportedly been referred to the coroner. “Make no mistake, these two deaths were treated in a very serious manner and the community has a right to know,” Secord said on Sunday. Skinner has faced calls in recent weeks to be sacked over gas mix-ups that left one baby dead and another in a critical condition at Bankstown-Lidcombe hospital and baby cremation mistakes at Royal North Shore hospital. Secord said the health district has ordered weekly meetings with clinical staff at Fairfield hospital, following the deaths at the 220-bed hospital. “There are clearly financial and resourcing problems at Fairfield hospital,” Secord said. “The Baird government must stop sweeping problems of the health and hospital system under the carpet.” |