A Sydney mother has spoken about the death of her newborn son, who died after he was accidentally given poisonous gas instead of oxygen in a Sydney hospital.
The Bankstown mum, Sonya, told 9NEWS the family had only been informed of the error on Friday.
Her fourth child John was born on July 13 in Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital.
“I held my baby, they brought him to me at the hospital, I said I want to see him.
“Just looking at him, shaking, my son, ‘wake up’, I would tell him.
“‘Wake up, wake up, what have they done to you?’”
Baby John died after he was given nitrous gas instead of oxygen through an incorrectly installed machine.
Another baby, born in June, was also given the poison and remains in a critical condition with significant brain damage.
Last night, NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner said she was “profoundly sorry” for the mistake.
“I am profoundly sorry for the families of a newborn who died and another newborn who was severely affected after the wrong gas was dispensed through a neonatal resuscitation outlet at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital,” a statement from Ms Skinner read.
“I deeply regret these families have suffered through such a devastating error.”
Ms Skinner is expected to hold a press conference this morning.
The error was identified last Thursday, after a paediatrician raised concerns over the death of the baby.
An oxygen machine in one of the hospital’s theatres was incorrectly installed and certified by gas supplier BOC Limited in July last year, Ms Skinner said.
A review of Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital’s records has found no other babies received the incorrect gas, she said.
The hospital has shut down the operation theatre with the faulty machine, while the hospital’s seven other theatres have been checked and deemed safe.
NSW Health lawyers are now seeking urgent advice from BOC Limited to determine how the accident occurred, while a formal investigation into whether staff followed installation protocols is also being conducted.
In a statement, BOC Limited said it is “extremely saddened of the tragic death of a newborn and the injury of another.”
“We deeply regret that these families are suffering pain and sorrow.”
The company said it has fully cooperated with investigations and it is conducting a full internal enquiry, as well as appointing a special investigation team to ensure that the cause is clearly identified.
Every medical gas outlet installed in a NSW Health facility is being checked and the department has advised the state’s health districts to urgently review their installation procedures.
