Premier says sorry to infant’s family

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The premier says it was “unacceptable” radio listeners learnt there were no contagious health risks attached to a woman whose breast milk was inadvertently given to the wrong baby, before the infant’s family. But he would not comment on whether Caboolture Hospital acting executive director Keith Love should be stood aside over the incident. On Monday, Mr Love told Fairfax Radio 4BC Mornings listeners the woman, whose breast milk was accidentally donated, had received negative results in response to Hepatitis A, B, C and HIV tests before admitting the baby’s family had yet to be informed. The interview was stopped to give hospital staff time to contact the child’s family. But Campbell Newman said the “whole matter” was “unacceptable” and as the leader of the government, he took responsibility. “Ultimately, the buck stops with me as premier and I sincerely and unequivocally apologise to the family this should not have happened in the first place and they had every right to know about this before other people knew,” he said. “The community had a right to know as well of course, but it shouldn’t have happened that way. So I am sorry that has happened and I apologise to them on behalf of the entire Queensland government and the Queensland Health team.” But the premier added “anyone is entitled to make a mistake” and he would leave any action against Mr Love to Health Minister Lawrence Springborg and the Metro North Hospital and Health Service. A spokesman for the HHS said Mr Love had personally apologised to the parents of the baby and a review of the hospital’s procedures was underway to identify how the mix-up occurred.