Hospital report released after four year's of lobbying

The family of Albany teenager Kieran Watmore, who died in Albany Hospital in 2008 after being admitted with tonsillitis, say the hospital still has a long way to go before it can be labelled a safe facility.

Speaking following the release of an independent investigation, sparked by the death of 17-year-old Kieran, his father Jim Watmore said the “thorough” report was a result of four years of lobbying for change.

The WA Health and Disability Services Complaints Office conducted the investigation after a 2009 coronial inquest into the teenager’s death identified “systemic deficiencies” and a “failure by nursing staff” at the hospital had resulted in Kieran’s death on August 28, 2008.

Changes undertaken by Albany Hospital were identified in the 60-page report released on Monday.

“Albany Hospital has still a long way to go but it is clearly moving in the right direction, a safe facility that this community can once again have confidence and faith in and that the tragic death of my loving son Kieran can never be repeated,” Mr Watmore said.

“No family should have to go through what our family has experienced.

“Albany Hospital needs to be commended for the changes they have made the last two years.”

Changes made included the implementation of a new medical model with 24-hour cover by an in-hospital doctor in the hospital’s emergency department and high dependency unit.

The report also recommends a doctor fatigue management policy, improved observation charts and ensuring nurses’ performance appraisals remained on target.

In August last year only 56 per cent of nursing staff received an annual performance appraisal, well down from the Department of Health target of 80 per cent.

Despite the changes implemented since the inquest, Kieran’s mother Helen Soerink said there were still some concerns, highlighted in the report.

She questioned how all the recommendations would be implemented and evaluated.

“The external investigation will only be an influence for change if it is incorporated into present practice,” Ms Soerink said.

“Hopefully this has a high priority for the hospital.”

Mr Watmore said action was still required to consolidate the improvements made at the hospital.

“No one can ever say that Helen and I didn’t affect change but there has been a huge cost to our family and we have paid the price,” he said.

“But it doesn’t bear thinking about what the Health Department, left to themselves, would have achieved.”

Mr Watmore plans to renew legal action for compensation.