Three executives from Healthscope, the operator of Northern Beaches Hospital, faced intense scrutiny regarding the incidents surrounding the death of two-year-old Joe Massa. The hearing, held at the New South Wales Parliament, opened with an apology from CEO Greg Horan to Joe’s parents, Danny and Elouise Massa. Horan expressed his profound sorrow for their loss and acknowledged the inadequate care provided at the hospital, vowing to learn from this “tragic incident” to prevent future occurrences.
During the proceedings, the Massa couple observed as Healthscope’s leadership defended their operations, asserting that staffing levels and triage protocols were consistent with state standards. Despite these claims, they accepted full responsibility for Joe’s preventable death. Chief Medical Officer and Chief Operating Officer Peter Thomas admitted that healthcare staff made an error by failing to administer an IV drip to Joe, despite his mother’s repeated requests. Thomas conceded that, in hindsight, fluids should have been provided much earlier in Joe’s treatment.
The panel was also confronted with inquiries regarding another tragic event—the death of a newborn baby during an emergency caesarean at the hospital. The Healthscope executives mentioned that an investigation was underway, although a preliminary review had not identified any significant shortcomings.
In light of these events, Danny and Elouise Massa are championing “Joe’s Rule”, a proposed policy that would ensure parental voices are heard during their children’s medical care. They are also advocating for a reevaluation of the public-private partnership currently in place at Northern Beaches Hospital, pushing for systemic changes designed to protect patient rights and improve healthcare practices. Once established, Joe’s Rule is envisioned to be implemented in emergency departments across New South Wales.