Djerriwarrh Health Services could face millions of dollars of payouts after a review of newborn and stillborn deaths at Bacchus Marsh hospital confirmed 11 baby deaths in 2013 and 2014 were avoidable.
Last week, Health Minister Jill Hennessy handed down the findings of the second review into baby deaths at Djerriwarrh Health Services going back to 2001.
The review found that in addition to the seven baby deaths discovered in an investigation by Professor Euan Wallace last November, four more deaths at Bacchus Marsh hospital could have been avoided.
Both reviews found there had been 38 stillbirth and newborn deaths at the hospital from 2001 to the present day, and the avoidable deaths had occurred as a result of deficiencies in clinical care provided by Djerriwarrh Health Services.
Lawyers for the families are seeking payments of up to $250,000 for each case, but claims could extend to babies left with permanent injuries at birth.
Maurice Blackburn lawyer Dimitra Dubrow is representing eight of the 11 families, along with another 17 families whose babies died or were injured at Djerriwarrh.
Ms Dubrow urged the government to look back at cases of injury at birth.
“We need to determine if any failings on behalf of the hospital caused these injuries.”
She said the families had gone through grief only to be told that their babies’ deaths were avoidable. “That kind of pain is just indescribable,” she said.
Slater and Gordon principal lawyer Anne Shortall is representing a number of families whose babies died or were left with life-changing injuries following their birth at Bacchus Marsh hospital.
She said her clients could be seeking millions of dollars in compensation and damages.
“The families who have lost babies at Bacchus Marsh Hospital are entitled to and deserve to be compensated for the loss of their precious children,” she said.
Significant progress
Djerriwarrh chief executive Andrew Freeman said significant progress had been made in all areas of the hospital and its services.
“In addition to implementing all of the recommendations made by Professor Wallace in his report into maternity services, we have also instigated a process of change and developed rigour and accountability across the organisation,” Mr Freeman said.
“With new, contemporary leadership, new senior clinical practitioners and improved standards of care, safety and systems of clinical governance now in place at the health service, we can give assurance of a safe, secure and fully functioning maternity service at Bacchus Marsh and Melton Regional Hospital.”
He credited the progress to the dedication of staff.
