PERTH CHILDREN'S
HOSPITAL — AISHWARYA ASWATH — PREMIER'S COMMENTS
548. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I
refer to the Premier's comments regarding staffing levels at Perth
Children's Hospital on the night that Aishwarya Aswath died—that is, the emergency department was
fully staffed, in fact over complement, and staffing levels were not an
issue.
(1) Given
evidence at the inquest into her death revealed that almost every staff member
had concerns about staffing levels, does the Premier stand by those original
comments?
(2) Has the Premier sought
subsequent advice following the inquest?
Mr M.
McGOWAN replied:
(1)–(2) I
would just say to the member that seeking to exploit the death of a young girl
is inappropriate, but I will answer the question. The severity assessment code
1 report, which was conducted following the awful events at the hospital,
showed that on 3 April 2022 there were 19 doctors in the emergency department
from 5.00 to 6.00 pm and 13 doctors from 6.00 to 8.00 pm. The ordinary roster
from 5.00 to 6.00 pm was 16 doctors, so it was three doctors more than the
ordinary roster. The ordinary roster from 6.00 to 8.00 pm was 13 doctors, which was the exact same number of
doctors who were there. The ordinary roster for nurses over that period
of time was 15, and there were 15 nurses present over the period in question.
One nurse went home sick at 5.45, but one supernumerary nurse was present, so
the complement of nurses was as is required by the roster.