Calls for Reform After Two-Year-Old Dies Following Failures at Sydney Hospital
Joe Massa's parents demand systemic changes and accountability after their son died due to delayed care and critical oversights at Northern Beaches Hospital.
- Joe Massa, a two-year-old suffering from hypovolemia, died after waiting over two hours for a bed and experiencing critical care failures at Northern Beaches Hospital in September 2024.
- A review identified multiple systemic and individual failures, including misclassification of Joe's condition, delayed treatment, and failure to act on parental and clinician concerns.
- Joe's parents, Elouise and Danny Massa, are advocating for a statewide implementation of 'Joe's Rule,' modeled after Queensland's 'Ryan's Rule,' to empower families to escalate care concerns.
- The hospital, operated under a controversial public-private partnership by Healthscope, faces scrutiny over its handling of public health services, with an ongoing auditor-general investigation into its performance.
- NSW Premier Chris Minns and Health Minister Ryan Park have pledged to meet with the Massa family, implement review recommendations, and consider broader inquiries into the hospital's operations.
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