Safer Care Victoria’s role as an administrative office under the Victorian Department of Health brings its independence into question.
Lawyers acting for the mother of one of three babies who died while in the care of Latrobe Regional Hospital in Victoria have called for an independent inquiry into the hospital’s operations.
Michael Passaro, a managing solicitor at Law Partners, is acting for Nadine Lont, whose baby Lacey died a week after her birth in LBH, following a painful and prolonged labour.
Lacey’s death is officially being investigated as a sentinel event — a preventable death as a result of adverse care.
Lacey Lont’s death was one of three over a six-week period in the hospital’s maternity unit.
“We believe the care Nadine and her child received may not have been satisfactory, and we understand that Nadine’s experience may not have been an isolated case,” said an announcement from Law Partners.
“Latrobe Regional Hospital is reviewing these deaths in consultation with Safer Care Victoria.
“However, Safer Care Victoria operates as an administrative office under the Victorian Department of Health and its independence and efficacy has recently been called into question.
“We believe further action is necessary to protect the health and interests of the Australian community in eastern Victoria.”
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Mr Passaro said:
“The community is currently in the dark about what’s going on at Latrobe Regional Health, and this needs to change.
“We’re not saying what Latrobe Regional Hospital should have done differently, or what systemic changes need to take place. We don’t yet know, and that’s the point.
“We believe an independent inquiry will help shine a light on the truth in an impartial manner, so the right changes can be made which help to safeguard the community and prevent more needless tragedies,” he said.
Based in Traralgon in eastern Victoria, LBH has been the subject of extensive investigation by the ABC, who reported that nine sentinel events resulting in death or serious harm have happened at the hospital in five years.