BUNGLED medical treatments that allegedly resulted in 18 deaths at Rockhampton Hospital are not a direct measure of safety at the facility, Queensland’s health minister says.
LAWRENCE Springborg has confirmed the Central Queensland Health Service is investigating 33 serious clinical incidents, including 18 patient deaths, at the hospital over the past three years.
Incidents include staff prescribing the wrong medication, failing to properly monitor patients and incorrectly interpreting test results. Mr Springborg has told the ABC the incidents are not indicative of the hospital’s safety or performance. But he said he was concerned that any patient might have been harmed as a result of improper care. Opposition health spokeswoman Jo-Ann Mill told ABC radio that any investigation into the incidents needed to be independent. “I’m certainly concerned about Rockhampton Hospital investigating Rockhampton Hospital,” she said.