A message from the St John of God Foundation CEO

I am writing in relation to a media story this past weekend that reported on the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of a baby at St John of God Bunbury Hospital in December.

Like many, I was deeply upset by this incident. My most heartfelt sympathy is extended to the family for their devastating loss, although no words can truly express my condolences, especially for the loss of a child.

As a supporter of St John of God Foundation, I wanted to provide you with an update and assurances that an ongoing investigation is in place.

The incident occurred on 10 December 2020, at which time a St John of God Bunbury Hospital patient was given a morphine overdose.

This sadly resulted in the stillbirth of the child, with the mother also transferred to a tertiary hospital in Perth for treatment after falling into a coma.

St John of God Health Care immediately commenced an internal review to determine the cause or any contributing factors. The family has been kept updated throughout the investigation, which is ongoing at this point.

St John of God Health Care stood down caregivers who were involved and the incident was reported to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Findings from the investigation so far indicate that the incident was tragically caused by human error, resulting in devastating and permanent consequences for the family.

St John of God Health Care has policies and processes in place to deliver high quality care and ensure our hospitals remain one of the safest places to give birth.

It is terrible that such a tragic occurrence has taken place and the organisation’s priority is to ensure that an incident of this nature does not occur again, and that no other families experience a loss such as this.

St John of God Bunbury Hospital remains in close contact with the family and is continuing to provide them with information and support as the investigation continues. Our hearts go out to the family and all those involved.