Over-the-bed critical care cameras which provide real-time images of seriously ill babies and children are being installed at Northern Beaches Hospital following the Clinical Excellence Commission's Independent Inquiry into the hospital's emergency department, which identified the absence of this technology as a serious concern.
The Inquiry, commissioned by the Secretary of NSW Health was released earlier this month.
The Minister for Health, Ryan Park, today announced the cameras were undergoing testing and were expected to be switched on within a matter of weeks.
Specialist camera units are being installed in the emergency department, paediatric ward and special care nursery.
The cameras allow for a clinician to contact the Newborn and Paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS) to connect them with specialists from the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, when a child is critically ill or facing an emergency.
Previously, Northern Beaches Hospital did not have a connection to NSW Health's data network which would have enabled the video camera connection.
Clinicians would communicate with NETS via phone when seeking clinical advice in a neonatal or paediatric emergency.
Discussions between the Northern Beaches Hospital Taskforce, Healthscope and its receivers remain ongoing.
It remains the preference of the NSW Government that a negotiated agreement on the future control and operation of the Northern Beaches Hospital can be achieved.
Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Health, Ryan Park:
"One of the great benefits of these cameras is that when in use the NETS clinicians can become very involved in the care often acting as another pair of eyes.
"The cameras are controlled at the NETS end so they can zoom in and look closely at the patient, or at the monitoring equipment to watch real time changes as they occur.
"These cameras are vital in providing specialist advice to clinicians on the ground dealing with a paediatric emergency.
"I hope this will provide some reassurance to the Northern Beaches community in light of the tragic death of Joe Massa.
"I would like to thank Joe's parents, Elouise and Danny Massa, who have advocated tirelessly on behalf of the community for improvements to be made at Northern Beaches Hospital.
"Today, I am pleased to say that as a result of NSW Health's work with Healthscope, the operator of Northern Beaches Hospital, these cameras are now being installed."
