By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
CASEY Hospital is hosting a community forum on 27 October to allay community fears about reported higher-than-average mortality rates for babies born at the hospital.
According to a state health department report, the hospital’s perinatal mortality ratio for babies born at 22 weeks was 168 in 2008/12, well higher than the statewide benchmark of 100.
For babies at 32 weeks, the ratio was 138, according to the Victorian perinatal services performance indicators 2008/12 report.
The rate was the second-highest in the state, though the under-fire Bacchus Marsh Hospital was not featured in the report.
Casey Hospital maternity nurse unit manager Colleen White labelled recent media reports about the maternity unit as “disappointing” and “misleading”.
“Casey Hospital is an extremely safe place to have a baby.”
Ms White said the hospital had delivered “thousands of healthy babies” over the five-year period.
“Unfortunately we had a small number of deaths above what we expected for Casey Hospital specifically.
“That is what the figure represents, but it is not an indication that any were avoidable or preventable.
“We know from our own recent reviews that our ratios are now absolutely back to what they are expected to be.”
A spokeswoman for Health Minister Jill Hennessey said the health service had not been identified as “being of concern” after a review of all perinatal deaths across the state over the past seven years.
The department report had used a mortality rates measure which included all perinatal deaths, including extremely premature babies, the spokeswoman said.
“It does not assess whether or not a death may have been avoidable,” she said.
“It is absolutely vital is that all perinatal deaths are independently and externally reviewed to identify what occurred, and that’s why the Minister for Health has put in place new measures to increase reporting and review of perinatal deaths across the state.”
The new measures include requiring all health services to review any perinatal death, and the quick review of cases by a statewide perinatal autopsy service run by the Royal Women’s Hospital.
Regional perinatal mortality committees will also review each death within three months.
The spokeswoman said the Department of Health and Human Services will review all of the state’s perinatal services to identify if any improvements can be made.
The hospital will host a community forum “to help alleviate any concerns” on 27 October, at 6.30pm.
