An independent report into the death of Aishwarya Aswath has found that nurses were “exhausted, demoralised and relatively isolated” on the day of the 7 year old girl’s death.
The report, released by the WA government on Tuesday, indicated that staffing was “sub-optimal” at Perth Children’s Hospital where Aswath died. It also criticised the hospital’s procedures in a number of areas, including parental communication and escalation supports.
It recommended a swathe of 30 recommendations, including around policy, staffing and recruitment.
The Australian Nursing Federation (WA Branch)’s secretary, Mark Olson, indicated that the findings of the report were indicative of the health crisis in WA.
“I can’t think of a single public hospital that doesn’t have the same problems that are identified in this report,” Mr Olson said.
“We’re setting ourselves up for the same circumstances that created the tragic death of Aishwarya.”
The WA Heath Minister, Roger Cook, has pledged to accept and act on the recommendations of the report.