1 00:00:10,614 --> 00:00:15,254 Speaker 1: You're listening to a Muma Mia podcast. Mumma Mea acknowledges 2 00:00:15,334 --> 00:00:18,134 Speaker 1: the traditional owners of land and waters that this podcast 3 00:00:18,214 --> 00:00:19,054 Speaker 1: is recorded on. 4 00:00:20,894 --> 00:00:24,214 Speaker 2: Hey, I'm Taylor Strano. This is Mumma MIA's twice daily 5 00:00:24,294 --> 00:00:28,414 Speaker 2: news podcast, The Quickie. At seven am on September fourteen, 6 00:00:28,534 --> 00:00:31,934 Speaker 2: last year, Alloy's Massa carried her two year old son Joe, 7 00:00:32,054 --> 00:00:36,774 Speaker 2: into Northern Beacher's Hospital's emergency department. By eleven am, Joe 8 00:00:37,014 --> 00:00:40,854 Speaker 2: was gone. Today we're investigating how a healthy toddler died 9 00:00:40,894 --> 00:00:44,334 Speaker 2: from what should have been an entirely treatable condition, and 10 00:00:44,454 --> 00:00:47,094 Speaker 2: why his death has sparked calls for urgent reform of 11 00:00:47,134 --> 00:00:50,734 Speaker 2: our hospital system. Before we get there, here's Claire Murphy 12 00:00:50,814 --> 00:00:53,094 Speaker 2: with the latest from The Quickie news room for Monday, 13 00:00:53,174 --> 00:00:55,334 Speaker 2: February twenty four Thanks Taylor. 14 00:00:55,454 --> 00:00:58,534 Speaker 1: A landmark bipartisan pledge to ensure nine out of ten 15 00:00:58,614 --> 00:01:00,934 Speaker 1: visits to the GP will be free within the next 16 00:01:00,934 --> 00:01:04,494 Speaker 1: decade may not feed through to every doctor's surgery. Prime 17 00:01:04,494 --> 00:01:08,414 Speaker 1: Minister Anthony Albernezi revealed his government's election promise late last week, 18 00:01:08,694 --> 00:01:11,294 Speaker 1: dedicating an a zero point five billion dollar boost to 19 00:01:11,334 --> 00:01:13,974 Speaker 1: Medicare to try and stop the decline of bog billing, 20 00:01:14,254 --> 00:01:17,854 Speaker 1: a pledge matched by Opposition leader Peter Dutton, but Australian 21 00:01:17,894 --> 00:01:21,614 Speaker 1: Medical Association President Daniel McMullen says that doesn't mean all 22 00:01:21,734 --> 00:01:25,294 Speaker 1: gps will return to bog billing, especially those in central 23 00:01:25,334 --> 00:01:28,734 Speaker 1: metro areas where costs are higher. McMullen saying the twenty 24 00:01:28,734 --> 00:01:31,774 Speaker 1: dollars bog billing incentive would not cover the average out 25 00:01:31,774 --> 00:01:34,534 Speaker 1: of pocket cost of more than forty dollars in some areas. 26 00:01:34,894 --> 00:01:38,614 Speaker 1: The Primary Care Business Council, who represent general practice providers, 27 00:01:38,694 --> 00:01:41,414 Speaker 1: has praised the move, saying the funding will mean more 28 00:01:41,414 --> 00:01:44,414 Speaker 1: practices will be able to remain open and more gps 29 00:01:44,454 --> 00:01:48,014 Speaker 1: will choose to work in less advantaged areas. Today marks 30 00:01:48,054 --> 00:01:50,054 Speaker 1: the three year anniversary of the start of the war 31 00:01:50,134 --> 00:01:53,214 Speaker 1: in Ukraine, with Russia launching its biggest drone attack on 32 00:01:53,254 --> 00:01:56,974 Speaker 1: the country since the war began. Targeting five regions, Russia 33 00:01:57,094 --> 00:02:00,454 Speaker 1: unleashed two hundred and sixty seven Iranian drones on Ukraine 34 00:02:00,494 --> 00:02:03,294 Speaker 1: in an overnight attack. One hundred and thirty eight were 35 00:02:03,294 --> 00:02:05,814 Speaker 1: shot down and another one hundred and nineteen were lost 36 00:02:05,814 --> 00:02:10,094 Speaker 1: to rad our communication after being jammed. Russia also launched 37 00:02:10,094 --> 00:02:13,814 Speaker 1: three ballistic missiles, with damage reported across the five regions. 38 00:02:14,134 --> 00:02:16,254 Speaker 1: The attack comes as the US attempts to brok her 39 00:02:16,294 --> 00:02:19,214 Speaker 1: a peace deal between the two countries, meeting with Russian 40 00:02:19,214 --> 00:02:22,654 Speaker 1: authorities last week. Rallies in support of Ukraine were held 41 00:02:22,654 --> 00:02:26,614 Speaker 1: across Australia over the weekend, with Ukraine's ambassador to Australia 42 00:02:26,694 --> 00:02:29,294 Speaker 1: calling on the US to not reward Russia for their 43 00:02:29,334 --> 00:02:33,494 Speaker 1: aggressions as it sends a dangerous message to other authoritarian leaders, 44 00:02:33,734 --> 00:02:36,494 Speaker 1: saying if it doesn't matter anymore, it becomes a very 45 00:02:36,574 --> 00:02:40,614 Speaker 1: dangerous world. Israel has threatened to not free the next 46 00:02:40,654 --> 00:02:44,774 Speaker 1: cohort of Palestinian prisoners until the next release of hostages 47 00:02:44,774 --> 00:02:47,334 Speaker 1: has been assured and they stop holding what they call 48 00:02:47,454 --> 00:02:51,974 Speaker 1: humiliating handover ceremonies. Hamas has forced some hostages to appear 49 00:02:52,014 --> 00:02:55,174 Speaker 1: on stage and sometimes even speak publicly before they're handed 50 00:02:55,174 --> 00:02:58,174 Speaker 1: back to Israel, while the remains of other hostages who've 51 00:02:58,214 --> 00:03:01,614 Speaker 1: died have been paraded through crowds in black coffins. Israeli 52 00:03:01,614 --> 00:03:05,254 Speaker 1: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office released a statement saying they're 53 00:03:05,294 --> 00:03:08,494 Speaker 1: waiting to deliver six hundred and twenty Palestinian prisoners and 54 00:03:08,534 --> 00:03:13,094 Speaker 1: detainees until these ceremonies are stopped. Hamas condemned the decision, 55 00:03:13,174 --> 00:03:17,174 Speaker 1: saying Israel's claims the hostage handover ceremonies were humiliating was 56 00:03:17,254 --> 00:03:20,974 Speaker 1: simply an excuse to evade its obligations under the ceasefire agreement. 57 00:03:21,814 --> 00:03:24,414 Speaker 1: A former aide to Prince William and Princess Catherine has 58 00:03:24,454 --> 00:03:27,494 Speaker 1: revealed that William was that his absolute lowest after finding 59 00:03:27,494 --> 00:03:29,774 Speaker 1: out both his dad and his wife had been diagnosed 60 00:03:29,774 --> 00:03:32,174 Speaker 1: with cancer. Jay Said now I, who worked for the 61 00:03:32,174 --> 00:03:35,134 Speaker 1: Prince and Princess of Wales until twenty twenty one, told 62 00:03:35,174 --> 00:03:37,774 Speaker 1: Sixty Minutes that he spoke to William on the phone, 63 00:03:38,134 --> 00:03:41,334 Speaker 1: saying it was absolutely awful and the lowest he'd ever 64 00:03:41,414 --> 00:03:44,054 Speaker 1: seen the Prince, and that making the problem even worse 65 00:03:44,214 --> 00:03:46,894 Speaker 1: was the crazy conspiracy theory things that had kicked off 66 00:03:46,934 --> 00:03:49,934 Speaker 1: in the background, some questioning whether the cake was actually 67 00:03:49,934 --> 00:03:52,614 Speaker 1: even sick. Now said the reason they hadn't said the 68 00:03:52,614 --> 00:03:55,294 Speaker 1: word cancer yet was because they hadn't told the children 69 00:03:55,494 --> 00:03:57,974 Speaker 1: and were still working out how to handle that. Now 70 00:03:58,094 --> 00:04:00,654 Speaker 1: said he has spent many hours supporting the couple through 71 00:04:00,654 --> 00:04:03,094 Speaker 1: how to prepare their children for life in the public eye. 72 00:04:03,454 --> 00:04:05,334 Speaker 1: They not only have them growing up in the eye 73 00:04:05,374 --> 00:04:07,454 Speaker 1: of the media, but they'll also be dealing with the 74 00:04:07,534 --> 00:04:11,254 Speaker 1: children having access to social media and smartphones and extra 75 00:04:11,334 --> 00:04:13,894 Speaker 1: layer Prince William didn't have when he was a child. 76 00:04:14,254 --> 00:04:16,974 Speaker 2: That's what's happening in the world today. Next, how did 77 00:04:16,974 --> 00:04:25,294 Speaker 2: our healthcare system fail? A two year old boy, Joe 78 00:04:25,334 --> 00:04:28,414 Speaker 2: Massa is remembered by his mum as a fun, bright, 79 00:04:28,654 --> 00:04:30,174 Speaker 2: typical two year old boy. 80 00:04:30,454 --> 00:04:34,694 Speaker 3: It's just like a very gentle boy, but teeky as well, 81 00:04:34,814 --> 00:04:38,214 Speaker 3: so mis genious, always putting on different. 82 00:04:37,934 --> 00:04:40,134 Speaker 1: Sort of hats of his sisters. 83 00:04:39,534 --> 00:04:44,694 Speaker 3: And running around with the broom and playing pranks. Beautiful. 84 00:04:44,974 --> 00:04:48,054 Speaker 2: But when Joe arrived at Northern Beach's Hospital in September 85 00:04:48,174 --> 00:04:51,174 Speaker 2: last year, there was clearly something wrong with this once 86 00:04:51,374 --> 00:04:55,574 Speaker 2: cheeky toddler. Joe was showing clear signs of hypovelemia, a 87 00:04:55,614 --> 00:04:58,814 Speaker 2: condition where the body has lost too much fluid. The 88 00:04:58,894 --> 00:05:03,414 Speaker 2: treatment is relatively straightforward ivy fluids to restore blood volume 89 00:05:03,454 --> 00:05:07,214 Speaker 2: and stabilize the patient. But what happened over the next 90 00:05:07,254 --> 00:05:10,574 Speaker 2: four hours would expose a series of ca catastrophic failures 91 00:05:10,614 --> 00:05:13,814 Speaker 2: in our healthcare system, failures that would cost a two 92 00:05:13,934 --> 00:05:18,134 Speaker 2: year old boy his life. Let's break down exactly what 93 00:05:18,334 --> 00:05:22,894 Speaker 2: happened that morning. At seven am, Joe arrived at the 94 00:05:22,934 --> 00:05:26,974 Speaker 2: emergency department with severe symptoms. His heart rate was already 95 00:05:27,014 --> 00:05:30,334 Speaker 2: high at one hundred and eighty two beats per minute. 96 00:05:30,414 --> 00:05:34,694 Speaker 2: The first critical error occurred immediately. Joe was wrongfully classified 97 00:05:34,734 --> 00:05:38,054 Speaker 2: as a Category three patient, meaning he could wait thirty 98 00:05:38,134 --> 00:05:41,854 Speaker 2: minutes for treatment. He should have been categorized as two, 99 00:05:41,934 --> 00:05:45,614 Speaker 2: requiring immediate attention within ten minutes due to his life 100 00:05:45,694 --> 00:05:48,934 Speaker 2: threatening condition. By half past seven, Joe was in the 101 00:05:49,174 --> 00:05:51,934 Speaker 2: ED room under the care of a lead Emergency Department 102 00:05:52,014 --> 00:05:55,854 Speaker 2: registered nurse and an advanced training doctor. We now know 103 00:05:55,974 --> 00:05:58,214 Speaker 2: that the nurse was fully aware Joe was in a 104 00:05:58,294 --> 00:06:02,334 Speaker 2: Category two red zone, but didn't follow protocol. In just 105 00:06:02,454 --> 00:06:05,574 Speaker 2: thirty minutes, Joe's heart rate had skyrocketed from one hundred 106 00:06:05,614 --> 00:06:08,014 Speaker 2: and eighty two to one hundred and ninety seven beats 107 00:06:08,014 --> 00:06:12,254 Speaker 2: per minute. This should have triggered the hospital's escalation policy, 108 00:06:12,694 --> 00:06:15,334 Speaker 2: but due to what the hospital later claimed was human 109 00:06:15,414 --> 00:06:19,214 Speaker 2: error and poor IT infrastructure, it didn't. At eight o'clock, 110 00:06:19,254 --> 00:06:23,774 Speaker 2: the most senior ED consultant doctor started their shift. According 111 00:06:23,774 --> 00:06:26,494 Speaker 2: to protocol, they should have checked on all patients under 112 00:06:26,534 --> 00:06:30,254 Speaker 2: trainee doctor's care, but they didn't. In fact, they weren't 113 00:06:30,254 --> 00:06:33,814 Speaker 2: even notified about Joe until his cardiac arrest nearly three 114 00:06:33,854 --> 00:06:37,614 Speaker 2: hours later. Between seven forty and just after ten am, 115 00:06:37,774 --> 00:06:40,734 Speaker 2: a crucial period of more than two hours, Joe's heart 116 00:06:40,814 --> 00:06:44,414 Speaker 2: rate wasn't checked once. According to Red Zone protocols, his 117 00:06:44,534 --> 00:06:48,774 Speaker 2: vital signs should have been monitored every fifteen minutes throughout 118 00:06:48,814 --> 00:06:52,214 Speaker 2: this time. His mum, Eloise, pleaded for help. She says 119 00:06:52,254 --> 00:06:55,054 Speaker 2: she asked for an IV drip, and all three times 120 00:06:55,174 --> 00:06:56,054 Speaker 2: she was denied. 121 00:06:56,694 --> 00:06:59,174 Speaker 3: I don't have any medical training, but I do know 122 00:06:59,254 --> 00:07:02,254 Speaker 3: my fun and I do know he actually needed a drip. 123 00:07:02,534 --> 00:07:06,254 Speaker 3: He looked critically unwell and he wasn't getting any better. 124 00:07:06,614 --> 00:07:10,614 Speaker 3: He was deteriorating, literally dying in my arm minute by minute, 125 00:07:10,974 --> 00:07:13,054 Speaker 3: and I was being told to sit back down in 126 00:07:13,134 --> 00:07:16,334 Speaker 3: my chair and follow the process. 127 00:07:17,254 --> 00:07:20,494 Speaker 2: At nine point forty, the situation became even more dire. 128 00:07:20,894 --> 00:07:24,334 Speaker 2: Eloi's watching her son deteriorate, took a photo in sheer 129 00:07:24,454 --> 00:07:27,334 Speaker 2: horror as Joe's eyes rolled to the back of his head. 130 00:07:27,654 --> 00:07:30,374 Speaker 2: She says she screamed that her son had gone blind. 131 00:07:30,974 --> 00:07:34,494 Speaker 2: Joe was showing classic signs of pre cardiac arrest. He 132 00:07:34,614 --> 00:07:39,174 Speaker 2: was agitated, pale, struggling to breathe, losing consciousness, A blotchy 133 00:07:39,294 --> 00:07:42,854 Speaker 2: rash appeared across his entire body, and his stomach was 134 00:07:42,934 --> 00:07:47,414 Speaker 2: visibly enlarged. Only then was Joe finally given a bed, 135 00:07:47,574 --> 00:07:51,974 Speaker 2: but still no IV drip, still no connection to monitoring equipment. 136 00:07:52,894 --> 00:07:56,294 Speaker 2: Just before eleven o'clock he went into cardiac arrest. The 137 00:07:56,334 --> 00:08:00,094 Speaker 2: resuscitation efforts lasted twenty nine minutes, but by then the 138 00:08:00,134 --> 00:08:05,454 Speaker 2: prolonged period without proper treatment had caused severe irreversible brain damage. 139 00:08:05,614 --> 00:08:07,854 Speaker 2: So how did so much go wrong in such a 140 00:08:07,894 --> 00:08:11,654 Speaker 2: short period of time. An independent investigation, known as a 141 00:08:11,694 --> 00:08:15,854 Speaker 2: Serious Adverse Event Review has since revealed multiple systematic failures 142 00:08:15,894 --> 00:08:20,014 Speaker 2: at every level. The hospital's IT systems were flawed, preventing 143 00:08:20,054 --> 00:08:25,094 Speaker 2: proper triarge alerts and escalation in emergency departments. Emergency protocols, 144 00:08:25,134 --> 00:08:29,414 Speaker 2: including frequent vital sign monitoring, were completely ignored. Both parental 145 00:08:29,414 --> 00:08:33,214 Speaker 2: and clinician concerns were also dismissed. Two clinicians have been 146 00:08:33,254 --> 00:08:38,054 Speaker 2: referred for further management due to substandard professional practice. Northern 147 00:08:38,094 --> 00:08:41,974 Speaker 2: Beaches Hospital operates as a public private partnership run by 148 00:08:42,014 --> 00:08:45,854 Speaker 2: private health care provider health Scope. The Massa family believed 149 00:08:45,854 --> 00:08:49,734 Speaker 2: that this model prioritizes financial interest over patient well being. 150 00:08:50,374 --> 00:08:53,814 Speaker 2: Joe's parents, Eloise and Danny Masser, argue that this tragedy 151 00:08:53,974 --> 00:08:57,134 Speaker 2: exposes a deeper problem in our healthcare system. 152 00:08:57,254 --> 00:09:00,654 Speaker 3: The system is failing because there wasn't just one failure 153 00:09:00,814 --> 00:09:04,214 Speaker 3: with us. It wasn't just because the triage nurse incorrectly 154 00:09:04,414 --> 00:09:07,974 Speaker 3: categorized Joe. That was the first of many mistakes, and 155 00:09:08,174 --> 00:09:14,294 Speaker 3: following that with multiple errors, multiple missed opportunities, And that 156 00:09:14,334 --> 00:09:21,294 Speaker 3: comes down to individual performance, senior management not implementing adequate policies, protocols, 157 00:09:21,534 --> 00:09:26,014 Speaker 3: an inadequate IT system at the Northern Beaches and indeed, 158 00:09:26,334 --> 00:09:30,814 Speaker 3: we are calling on a reevaluation of the government's partnership 159 00:09:30,814 --> 00:09:35,134 Speaker 3: with Healthscope because it's very clear that it's putting profit 160 00:09:35,614 --> 00:09:37,974 Speaker 3: before the lives of patient safety. 161 00:09:39,014 --> 00:09:42,534 Speaker 2: Joe's family are now calling for five major reforms. You 162 00:09:42,614 --> 00:09:45,694 Speaker 2: heard about some of them just there. First, a full 163 00:09:45,774 --> 00:09:49,414 Speaker 2: and public parliamentary review into the serious malpractice at Northern 164 00:09:49,454 --> 00:09:54,374 Speaker 2: Beaches Hospital. Second, a comprehensive review of hospital policies, including 165 00:09:54,454 --> 00:10:00,054 Speaker 2: immediate reforms to escalation procedures, staff training and performance reviews. Third, 166 00:10:00,294 --> 00:10:04,694 Speaker 2: urgent upgrades to IT systems. Fourth, state wide enforcement of 167 00:10:04,734 --> 00:10:08,734 Speaker 2: the REACH Protocol, ensuring every parent or carer is informed 168 00:10:08,774 --> 00:10:12,574 Speaker 2: of their right to escalate concerns when their child is deteriorating, 169 00:10:13,334 --> 00:10:18,134 Speaker 2: and finally, increase transparency in private public partnerships in healthcare, 170 00:10:18,334 --> 00:10:21,654 Speaker 2: with the New South Wales government reevaluating its contract with 171 00:10:21,734 --> 00:10:25,494 Speaker 2: health Scope. The immediate impact of Joe's death continues to 172 00:10:25,614 --> 00:10:28,774 Speaker 2: ripple through the community. A nurse's strike that took place 173 00:10:28,854 --> 00:10:31,654 Speaker 2: late last week shows the level of outrage among health 174 00:10:31,694 --> 00:10:35,134 Speaker 2: care workers themselves. Later this week, the masses will meet 175 00:10:35,174 --> 00:10:37,774 Speaker 2: with the New South Wales Premier and Health Minister to 176 00:10:37,854 --> 00:10:41,574 Speaker 2: discuss their demands for reform. As Eloise and Danny put it, 177 00:10:41,694 --> 00:10:43,374 Speaker 2: their son should be here today. 178 00:10:43,774 --> 00:10:46,574 Speaker 3: No parent should have to walk out of an emergency 179 00:10:46,614 --> 00:10:52,334 Speaker 3: department with only their bags and not their childs because 180 00:10:53,574 --> 00:10:57,374 Speaker 3: the health system in New South Wales has failed. This 181 00:10:57,534 --> 00:11:00,254 Speaker 3: is not just about the avoidable death of our son Joe. 182 00:11:00,294 --> 00:11:03,014 Speaker 3: This is about every child and every family in New 183 00:11:03,054 --> 00:11:07,574 Speaker 3: South Wales who relies on our public hospitals in moments 184 00:11:07,614 --> 00:11:08,374 Speaker 3: of crisis. 185 00:11:09,894 --> 00:11:12,214 Speaker 2: Thanks for taking some time to feed your mind with us. 186 00:11:12,294 --> 00:11:15,614 Speaker 2: The Quikie is produced by me Taylorstrano and Clare Murphy, 187 00:11:15,694 --> 00:11:17,694 Speaker 2: with audio production by Lew Hill.