Botched hospital stays caused more than 100 deaths
Three Victorian patients died or were seriously harmed after receiving surgery on the wrong part of their body last financial year.
Two others were left with life-threatening complications because foreign objects – such as surgical sponges, cotton swabs or clamps – were unintentionally left inside them at the end of an invasive procedure.
Thirteen people died or were seriously harmed because they were either given the wrong medication or incorrect dosage. And six died by suspected suicide in an acute psychiatric unit or ward.
The revelations are contained in Victoria's latest annual review of hospital errors resulting in serious harm or death, otherwise known as 'sentinel events'.
The report – compiled by government agency Safer Care Victoria and obtained by The Age before it was published – found there were 193 such incidents during the 2023-24 financial year, resulting in approximately 112 deaths.
While the overall number of sentinel events and subsequent deaths are down compared to last year's record high of 245 incidents and 167 patient deaths, there has been a year-on-year spike in the number of suspected suicides in acute psychiatric settings and the proportion of sentinel events involving babies less than seven days old.
The six Victorians who died by suspected suicide in an acute psychiatric setting last financial year represent a threefold increase compared to 2022-23 when two individuals died in similar circumstances.
The proportion of self-harm incidents among uncategorised sentinel events also grew year-on-year, from 7 per cent to 10 per cent. The Age can confirm Safer Care Victoria will conduct a review of the way health services report these so-called 'category 11' cases, which make up the vast majority of incidents.
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The Age
15 hours ago
- The Age
Botched hospital stays caused more than 100 deaths
Three Victorian patients died or were seriously harmed after receiving surgery on the wrong part of their body last financial year. Two others were left with life-threatening complications because foreign objects – such as surgical sponges, cotton swabs or clamps – were unintentionally left inside them at the end of an invasive procedure. Thirteen people died or were seriously harmed because they were either given the wrong medication or incorrect dosage. And six died by suspected suicide in an acute psychiatric unit or ward. The revelations are contained in Victoria's latest annual review of hospital errors resulting in serious harm or death, otherwise known as 'sentinel events'. The report – compiled by government agency Safer Care Victoria and obtained by The Age before it was published – found there were 193 such incidents during the 2023-24 financial year, resulting in approximately 112 deaths. While the overall number of sentinel events and subsequent deaths are down compared to last year's record high of 245 incidents and 167 patient deaths, there has been a year-on-year spike in the number of suspected suicides in acute psychiatric settings and the proportion of sentinel events involving babies less than seven days old. The six Victorians who died by suspected suicide in an acute psychiatric setting last financial year represent a threefold increase compared to 2022-23 when two individuals died in similar circumstances. The proportion of self-harm incidents among uncategorised sentinel events also grew year-on-year, from 7 per cent to 10 per cent. The Age can confirm Safer Care Victoria will conduct a review of the way health services report these so-called 'category 11' cases, which make up the vast majority of incidents.
Sydney Morning Herald
15 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Botched hospital stays caused more than 100 deaths
Three Victorian patients died or were seriously harmed after receiving surgery on the wrong part of their body last financial year. Two others were left with life-threatening complications because foreign objects – such as surgical sponges, cotton swabs or clamps – were unintentionally left inside them at the end of an invasive procedure. Thirteen people died or were seriously harmed because they were either given the wrong medication or incorrect dosage. And six died by suspected suicide in an acute psychiatric unit or ward. The revelations are contained in Victoria's latest annual review of hospital errors resulting in serious harm or death, otherwise known as 'sentinel events'. The report – compiled by government agency Safer Care Victoria and obtained by The Age before it was published – found there were 193 such incidents during the 2023-24 financial year, resulting in approximately 112 deaths. While the overall number of sentinel events and subsequent deaths are down compared to last year's record high of 245 incidents and 167 patient deaths, there has been a year-on-year spike in the number of suspected suicides in acute psychiatric settings and the proportion of sentinel events involving babies less than seven days old. The six Victorians who died by suspected suicide in an acute psychiatric setting last financial year represent a threefold increase compared to 2022-23 when two individuals died in similar circumstances. The proportion of self-harm incidents among uncategorised sentinel events also grew year-on-year, from 7 per cent to 10 per cent. The Age can confirm Safer Care Victoria will conduct a review of the way health services report these so-called 'category 11' cases, which make up the vast majority of incidents.
The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Nurses warn pink protest for better pay could escalate
Nurses are expected to escalate their protest for better pay over the coming weeks as union members take industrial action for the first time in two decades. Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union members began protected industrial action on Thursday, wearing pink into hospitals to voice their demands. The 45,000-strong union is demanding the Queensland government follow through on its 2024 election commitment of "nation-leading" wages for the health workforce. The state government's public sector wages offer is currently three per cent in April 2025, 2.5 per cent in April 2026 and 2027, and an extra three per cent in December 2027. The union said 66.7 per cent of nurses and midwives would be paid less than their Victorian counterparts by the end of the agreement. It is demanding that the current offer be increased. "You have a government saying that they love nurses and they respect nurses, that is not being shown in the offers being put forward," union secretary Sarah Beaman told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday. "We are not being unreasonable. "We are not seeking a pat on the head, all (nurses) want is an offer that actually maintains the (government's) commitment." The first stage of the industrial action is wearing pink to start conversations about the union's demands but Ms Beaman warned it will likely escalate if demands are not met. "Activity launched today will escalate in the coming weeks, if the state government continues to threaten the rights of nurses and wives," she said. Further industrial action could include work bans but for now the pink campaign will not impact the delivery of health care, Ms Beaman said. Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the state government has made two offers to the union, including double time for overtime and an 11 per cent over three-year wage increase. "We believe that delivers on our election commitment to make sure that our Queensland nurses and midwives have nation-leading wages and conditions," he told reporters in Rockhampton. Mr Nicholls said the government will continue negotiating with the union over the next 10 days. Nurses are expected to escalate their protest for better pay over the coming weeks as union members take industrial action for the first time in two decades. Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union members began protected industrial action on Thursday, wearing pink into hospitals to voice their demands. The 45,000-strong union is demanding the Queensland government follow through on its 2024 election commitment of "nation-leading" wages for the health workforce. The state government's public sector wages offer is currently three per cent in April 2025, 2.5 per cent in April 2026 and 2027, and an extra three per cent in December 2027. The union said 66.7 per cent of nurses and midwives would be paid less than their Victorian counterparts by the end of the agreement. It is demanding that the current offer be increased. "You have a government saying that they love nurses and they respect nurses, that is not being shown in the offers being put forward," union secretary Sarah Beaman told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday. "We are not being unreasonable. "We are not seeking a pat on the head, all (nurses) want is an offer that actually maintains the (government's) commitment." The first stage of the industrial action is wearing pink to start conversations about the union's demands but Ms Beaman warned it will likely escalate if demands are not met. "Activity launched today will escalate in the coming weeks, if the state government continues to threaten the rights of nurses and wives," she said. Further industrial action could include work bans but for now the pink campaign will not impact the delivery of health care, Ms Beaman said. Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the state government has made two offers to the union, including double time for overtime and an 11 per cent over three-year wage increase. "We believe that delivers on our election commitment to make sure that our Queensland nurses and midwives have nation-leading wages and conditions," he told reporters in Rockhampton. Mr Nicholls said the government will continue negotiating with the union over the next 10 days. Nurses are expected to escalate their protest for better pay over the coming weeks as union members take industrial action for the first time in two decades. Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union members began protected industrial action on Thursday, wearing pink into hospitals to voice their demands. The 45,000-strong union is demanding the Queensland government follow through on its 2024 election commitment of "nation-leading" wages for the health workforce. The state government's public sector wages offer is currently three per cent in April 2025, 2.5 per cent in April 2026 and 2027, and an extra three per cent in December 2027. The union said 66.7 per cent of nurses and midwives would be paid less than their Victorian counterparts by the end of the agreement. It is demanding that the current offer be increased. "You have a government saying that they love nurses and they respect nurses, that is not being shown in the offers being put forward," union secretary Sarah Beaman told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday. "We are not being unreasonable. "We are not seeking a pat on the head, all (nurses) want is an offer that actually maintains the (government's) commitment." The first stage of the industrial action is wearing pink to start conversations about the union's demands but Ms Beaman warned it will likely escalate if demands are not met. "Activity launched today will escalate in the coming weeks, if the state government continues to threaten the rights of nurses and wives," she said. Further industrial action could include work bans but for now the pink campaign will not impact the delivery of health care, Ms Beaman said. Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the state government has made two offers to the union, including double time for overtime and an 11 per cent over three-year wage increase. "We believe that delivers on our election commitment to make sure that our Queensland nurses and midwives have nation-leading wages and conditions," he told reporters in Rockhampton. Mr Nicholls said the government will continue negotiating with the union over the next 10 days. Nurses are expected to escalate their protest for better pay over the coming weeks as union members take industrial action for the first time in two decades. Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union members began protected industrial action on Thursday, wearing pink into hospitals to voice their demands. The 45,000-strong union is demanding the Queensland government follow through on its 2024 election commitment of "nation-leading" wages for the health workforce. The state government's public sector wages offer is currently three per cent in April 2025, 2.5 per cent in April 2026 and 2027, and an extra three per cent in December 2027. The union said 66.7 per cent of nurses and midwives would be paid less than their Victorian counterparts by the end of the agreement. It is demanding that the current offer be increased. "You have a government saying that they love nurses and they respect nurses, that is not being shown in the offers being put forward," union secretary Sarah Beaman told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday. "We are not being unreasonable. "We are not seeking a pat on the head, all (nurses) want is an offer that actually maintains the (government's) commitment." The first stage of the industrial action is wearing pink to start conversations about the union's demands but Ms Beaman warned it will likely escalate if demands are not met. "Activity launched today will escalate in the coming weeks, if the state government continues to threaten the rights of nurses and wives," she said. Further industrial action could include work bans but for now the pink campaign will not impact the delivery of health care, Ms Beaman said. Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the state government has made two offers to the union, including double time for overtime and an 11 per cent over three-year wage increase. "We believe that delivers on our election commitment to make sure that our Queensland nurses and midwives have nation-leading wages and conditions," he told reporters in Rockhampton. Mr Nicholls said the government will continue negotiating with the union over the next 10 days.
