❓ Hon Linda Savage asks the Minister for Health about the implementation of recommendations from a coroner's report regarding the death of Shar Rose Benfield, specifically concerning safe sleeping practices and culturally appropriate information for Aboriginal parents. The Minister responds that implementation is ongoing, detailing actions taken by a working party and planned updates to the Personal Health Record.
AnsweredQoN 6002Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Record of Investigation into the Death of Shar Rose Benfield by the Coroner dated 16 April 2012 and in particular Recommendations No. 2 and No. 3, and ask —
(1) Has the Minister implemented the two recommendations of the Coroner, and if not, why not?
(2) If the recommendations have been implemented, when did it occur?
(1) Has the Minister implemented the two recommendations of the Coroner, and if not, why not?
(2) If the recommendations have been implemented, when did it occur?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
27 September 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Health
Response time
16 days
1. The Department of Health Performance Activity and Quality Division's Coronial Liaison Unit coordinates the Health responses to the State Coroner in relation to recommendations arising from coronial inquests. A biannual report is provided to the Coroner which outlines WA Health's actions taken to implement coronial inquest recommendations.
Both recommendations from the Shar Rose BENFIELD inquest that were directed to WA Health are currently in the process of being implemented. With respect to each, the following actions have progressed. This information has been provided to the Coroner in the biannual report.
Recommendation 2.
I recommend that WA Health work with other stakeholders (Community Health nurses, the Department of Child Protection, Aboriginal Medical Health Providers, SIDS and Kids and other interested groups) to work towards developing and transmitting a coherent message relating to the known risks that can cause unexpected infant mortality. In providing that information to Aboriginal parents it should be developed and delivered in a culturally appropriate and relevant way.
- A Safe Sleeping Working Party has been established which involves comprehensive stakeholder representation from health services, community services, government agencies, and specialist organisations.
- The working party will review the WA Health policy and operational directive on safe sleeping, information brochures and education programs to ensure all information is consistent and culturally appropriate.
Recommendation 3.
I recommend that the Department of Health develop a tab in its purple book (or subsequent iteration), that gives parents advice about the fact of sudden infant deaths, the factors that are reasonably thought to be associated with those deaths and practical advice as to how to reduce the risks to a child. For example, parents should be provided with appropriate information about their child's safe sleeping arrangements, the risks associated with a child being exposed to second-hand smoke and a child being kept in an environment that is too warm.
- A review of the Personal Health Record (the purple book) is currently being undertaken against best practice. The purple book will be updated to include safe sleeping recommendations for parents and checkboxes for child health nurses to deliver safe sleeping education.
2. Implementation of recommendations 2 and 3 is currently ongoing.
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Both recommendations from the Shar Rose BENFIELD inquest that were directed to WA Health are currently in the process of being implemented. With respect to each, the following actions have progressed. This information has been provided to the Coroner in the biannual report.
Recommendation 2.
I recommend that WA Health work with other stakeholders (Community Health nurses, the Department of Child Protection, Aboriginal Medical Health Providers, SIDS and Kids and other interested groups) to work towards developing and transmitting a coherent message relating to the known risks that can cause unexpected infant mortality. In providing that information to Aboriginal parents it should be developed and delivered in a culturally appropriate and relevant way.
- A Safe Sleeping Working Party has been established which involves comprehensive stakeholder representation from health services, community services, government agencies, and specialist organisations.
- The working party will review the WA Health policy and operational directive on safe sleeping, information brochures and education programs to ensure all information is consistent and culturally appropriate.
Recommendation 3.
I recommend that the Department of Health develop a tab in its purple book (or subsequent iteration), that gives parents advice about the fact of sudden infant deaths, the factors that are reasonably thought to be associated with those deaths and practical advice as to how to reduce the risks to a child. For example, parents should be provided with appropriate information about their child's safe sleeping arrangements, the risks associated with a child being exposed to second-hand smoke and a child being kept in an environment that is too warm.
- A review of the Personal Health Record (the purple book) is currently being undertaken against best practice. The purple book will be updated to include safe sleeping recommendations for parents and checkboxes for child health nurses to deliver safe sleeping education.
2. Implementation of recommendations 2 and 3 is currently ongoing.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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