A parliamentary question regarding the death of Giovanni Bertoncini at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, seeking details on investigations, policy changes, and an apology to the family. The response indicates a review will occur after the coronial inquest and that the hospital has already apologised.

AnsweredQoN 935Legislative Council
Asked
10 November 2004
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to an independent medical report compiled by Robert Goldman regarding the death of Giovanni Bertoncini at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, and Mr Goldman’s statement that the Bertoncini family’s concerns surrounding the death of Mr Bertoncini at the hospital were justified. (1) In view of the highly significant implications for the safety of patients in this State’s accident and emergency wards, will the parliamentary secretary please detail the steps that the health minister, his office and/or his department have taken to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mr Bertoncini’s death? (2) Does the minister concur with the comment of the North Metropolitan Health Service acting executive director, Mark Platell, in The West Australian of 4 November 2004 that the hospital would not comment on the matter until the full coronial inquest had been completed and the coroner had considered all available evidence before making formal findings? (3) What specific action, policies and/or protocols have been put in place since Mr Bertoncini’s death to ensure that this can never happen again? (4) Will the minister and/or the Department of Health apologise to the Bertoncini family? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. On behalf of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health, I provide the following answer - (1) The Office of Safety and Quality in Health Care will examine the findings of the State Coroner when they are available. (2) Yes. Comment on a matter that is currently sub judice the coroner would be improper. (3) Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital has adopted a medical service policy that limits the types of patients admitted to the unit to which Mr Bertoncini was admitted. (4) The hospital has publicly apologised to the family since Mr Bertoncini’s death.
(1) In view of the highly significant implications for the safety of patients in this State’s accident and emergency wards, will the parliamentary secretary please detail the steps that the health minister, his office and/or his department have taken to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mr Bertoncini’s death? (2) Does the minister concur with the comment of the North Metropolitan Health Service acting executive director, Mark Platell, in The West Australian of 4 November 2004 that the hospital would not comment on the matter until the full coronial inquest had been completed and the coroner had considered all available evidence before making formal findings? (3) What specific action, policies and/or protocols have been put in place since Mr Bertoncini’s death to ensure that this can never happen again? (4) Will the minister and/or the Department of Health apologise to the Bertoncini family? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. On behalf of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health, I provide the following answer - (1) The Office of Safety and Quality in Health Care will examine the findings of the State Coroner when they are available. (2) Yes. Comment on a matter that is currently sub judice the coroner would be improper. (3) Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital has adopted a medical service policy that limits the types of patients admitted to the unit to which Mr Bertoncini was admitted. (4) The hospital has publicly apologised to the family since Mr Bertoncini’s death.
(2) Does the minister concur with the comment of the North Metropolitan Health Service acting executive director, Mark Platell, in The West Australian of 4 November 2004 that the hospital would not comment on the matter until the full coronial inquest had been completed and the coroner had considered all available evidence before making formal findings? (3) What specific action, policies and/or protocols have been put in place since Mr Bertoncini’s death to ensure that this can never happen again? (4) Will the minister and/or the Department of Health apologise to the Bertoncini family? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. On behalf of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health, I provide the following answer - (1) The Office of Safety and Quality in Health Care will examine the findings of the State Coroner when they are available. (2) Yes. Comment on a matter that is currently sub judice the coroner would be improper. (3) Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital has adopted a medical service policy that limits the types of patients admitted to the unit to which Mr Bertoncini was admitted. (4) The hospital has publicly apologised to the family since Mr Bertoncini’s death.
(3) What specific action, policies and/or protocols have been put in place since Mr Bertoncini’s death to ensure that this can never happen again? (4) Will the minister and/or the Department of Health apologise to the Bertoncini family? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. On behalf of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health, I provide the following answer - (1) The Office of Safety and Quality in Health Care will examine the findings of the State Coroner when they are available. (2) Yes. Comment on a matter that is currently sub judice the coroner would be improper. (3) Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital has adopted a medical service policy that limits the types of patients admitted to the unit to which Mr Bertoncini was admitted. (4) The hospital has publicly apologised to the family since Mr Bertoncini’s death.
(4) Will the minister and/or the Department of Health apologise to the Bertoncini family? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. On behalf of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health, I provide the following answer - (1) The Office of Safety and Quality in Health Care will examine the findings of the State Coroner when they are available. (2) Yes. Comment on a matter that is currently sub judice the coroner would be improper. (3) Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital has adopted a medical service policy that limits the types of patients admitted to the unit to which Mr Bertoncini was admitted. (4) The hospital has publicly apologised to the family since Mr Bertoncini’s death.
Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. On behalf of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health, I provide the following answer - (1) The Office of Safety and Quality in Health Care will examine the findings of the State Coroner when they are available. (2) Yes. Comment on a matter that is currently sub judice the coroner would be improper. (3) Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital has adopted a medical service policy that limits the types of patients admitted to the unit to which Mr Bertoncini was admitted. (4) The hospital has publicly apologised to the family since Mr Bertoncini’s death.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. On behalf of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health, I provide the following answer - (1) The Office of Safety and Quality in Health Care will examine the findings of the State Coroner when they are available. (2) Yes. Comment on a matter that is currently sub judice the coroner would be improper. (3) Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital has adopted a medical service policy that limits the types of patients admitted to the unit to which Mr Bertoncini was admitted. (4) The hospital has publicly apologised to the family since Mr Bertoncini’s death.
(1) The Office of Safety and Quality in Health Care will examine the findings of the State Coroner when they are available. (2) Yes. Comment on a matter that is currently sub judice the coroner would be improper. (3) Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital has adopted a medical service policy that limits the types of patients admitted to the unit to which Mr Bertoncini was admitted. (4) The hospital has publicly apologised to the family since Mr Bertoncini’s death.
(2) Yes. Comment on a matter that is currently sub judice the coroner would be improper. (3) Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital has adopted a medical service policy that limits the types of patients admitted to the unit to which Mr Bertoncini was admitted. (4) The hospital has publicly apologised to the family since Mr Bertoncini’s death.
(3) Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital has adopted a medical service policy that limits the types of patients admitted to the unit to which Mr Bertoncini was admitted. (4) The hospital has publicly apologised to the family since Mr Bertoncini’s death.
(4) The hospital has publicly apologised to the family since Mr Bertoncini’s death.

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