Add Category
WA's Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) will not endorse its own report into a seven-year-old's death at Perth Children's Hospital until an independent investigation has been completed.
Key points:
- Health executives say further investigations are needed
- The seven-year-old died after waiting for treatment at PCH
- An independent review into her death is being prepared
The report, which was released by Aishwarya Aswath's family, detailed what happened the night Aishwarya died, including the response from staff, as she waited around two hours to be treated before being declared dead just after 9:00pm on Saturday, April 3.
The CAHS review was conducted by a panel which was made up of a mix of health department employees and external experts.
"The panel found there were a cascade of missed opportunities to address parental concerns and incomplete assessments, with a delay in escalation which may have contributed to the patient's outcome," the report found.
Eleven recommendations were made, including improvement to the triage process policy at PCH, a clear pathway for parents to escalate concerns to staff, a review of cultural awareness for staff and development of an established sepsis recognition diagnostic tool in the emergency department.
ABC News: West Matteeussen
)The state government has promised there will also be an independent inquiry into the hospital's emergency department, and a coronial inquest into Aishwarya's death.
More investigations needed: CAHS
CAHS chief executive Aresh Anwar said he agreed with Aishwarya's family that she was not shown compassion and care.
But he said the report would not be endorsed until further investigations were completed.
"The CAHS Executive acknowledge the findings of the panel," Dr Anwar said in a statement provided to the ABC.
"The report represents a significant volume of investigation, however, it is the opinion of the CAHS executive that there are a number of elements that require further exploration.
Supplied: Family
)"The additional independent external review must be completed before we can, in good conscience, consider this investigation to be finalised.
"This additional targeted review will ensure we fully understand the opportunities for systemic change.
"While we await the additional independent external review, we are not in a position to endorse this root cause analysis report.
"However, we remain committed and are urgently implementing all 11 recommendations."