Four newborn babies die in one month at an Australian hospital

Doctors believe the deaths could have been avoided.
Doctors believe the deaths could have been avoided. Photo credit: File

There are calls for an Australian women's hospital to launch a review after it was revealed four newborn babies had died in its care in the past month.

Professor John Svigos, an obstetrician at the Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital, told a Parliament committee in South Australia the deaths could have been prevented had onsite cardiac treatment been available for babies - something that was proposed more than a year ago.

Babies who require such treatment are usually transferred to Melbourne - something that hasn't been possible amid COVID-19 and Australia's state border restrictions.

"How many more deaths of babies and young children will staff be forced to endure before the Minister for Health [Stephen Wade] cuts across this unnecessary procrastination?

"We spend $5 million a year transferring patients," Prof Svigos said, as reported by the ABC.

But according to the Women's and Children's Hospital, its services are "safe and of a high-quality standard".

"The death of any patient is extremely distressing to all of us and to all of our staff here at the network," the hospital's chief executive Lindsey Gough said, ABC reported. 

"We do take it very seriously and I want to reassure all of the public that our services here are safe and of a high-quality standard." 

Prof Svigos said having the unit available in Adelaide would save about AU$4 million per year.

Local MP Connie Bonaros has called for an independent inquiry.

"The current situation is completely and utterly unacceptable and reprehensible," she said in a statement to AAP.

"It is shameful that Adelaide is the only mainland city in the land without such a unit, but it is even more disgusting that babies are allegedly dying because of it."