‘A big win for Joe’: Major changes coming to every hospital emergency department after Joe Massa’s avoidable death at Northern Beaches Hospital

‘A big win for Joe’: Major changes coming to every hospital emergency department after Joe Massa’s avoidable death at Northern Beaches Hospital

The grieving parents of a 22-month-old boy who died following systematic failures at a Sydney hospital have welcomed major changes to be implemented across NSW.

Joe Massa’s parents Elouise and Danny met NSW Premier Chris Minns and health minister Ryan Park on Wednesday after bravely speaking out last week about his death at Northern Beaches Hospital last September.

Many tears were during the constructive but positive meeting.

‘They were moved to tears, we were moved to tears … we felt that this journey, which has only been a week long for us in terms of being in the media, has been worth it, worth every single moment of heartache,’ Ms Massa said.

The Balgowlah couple rushed their ‘bright and loving’ baby boy to the hospital’s emergency department on the morning of September 14.

Joe had spent the night violently vomiting and was suffering a life-threatening condition called hypovolemia after losing too much fluid.

After a series of failures and misdiagnoses, Joe suffered severe and irreversible brain damage and his life support was turned off three days later. 

Five months on, the Massas are satisfied that change is on the way across the state, which will be known as Joe’s Rule in honour of their son.

Joe Massa’s parents Elouise and Danny met Premier Chris Minns on Wednesday after speaking out last week about his death at Northern Beaches Hospital in September. Joe is pictured

Danny and Elouise Massa are pictured outside the NSW State Parliament on Wednesday

Danny and Elouise Massa are pictured outside the NSW State Parliament on Wednesday

The implementation of Joe’s Rule will enshrine a parent’s right to be heard during the treatment of their children.

‘Today’s a big win for Joe and for every child in NSW, because we’re making change,’ Ms Massa said as she clutched her toddler’s jumper. 

‘(NSW Health Secretary) Susan Pearce will be putting together a roundtable around the REACH protocol and turning it into Joe’s Rule.’

‘[It’s] overwhelming we know that Joe’s life mattered, I think we have a sense of relief that in his death, his death will also matter.’

Her husband wants to make it easier for parents to get help for their children and that the current REACH protocol – which stands for ‘Recognise, Engage, Act, Call, Help is on its way’ – was too complex and not well-known. 

‘There’s an intention to simplify reach from a five-word acronym into something that’s easily digestible for a parent or carer who’s in the emergency department and is stressed, and they’re able to easily enact their rights at that point in time,’ Mr Massa said. 

The Massas have also asked for the public-private partnership that governs the hospital to be scrapped.

‘Chris Minns is open to and looking into independent and parliamentary review of what occurred at the Northern Beaches Hospital,’ Mr Massa said.

Elouise Massa is pictured with her son Joe. She is confident changes to NSW hospitals will help all children in the state

Elouise Massa is pictured with her son Joe. She is confident changes to NSW hospitals will help all children in the state

After a series of failures and misdiagnoses, Joe (pictured) suffered severe and irreversible brain damage and his life support was turned off on September 17

After a series of failures and misdiagnoses, Joe (pictured) suffered severe and irreversible brain damage and his life support was turned off on September 17

Mr Park described the meeting as ‘powerful’ and ‘valuable’, adding that ‘some of the suggestions we intend on progressing immediately’.

He will also write to Attorney-General Michael Daley to request a coronial inquest into Joe’s death and will launched independent inquiry into emergency departments.

The current and former chief executives of Healthscope, which runs the Northern Beaches Hospital, will face questions at state parliament on Thursday.

Tino La Spina has been the chief executive for just two weeks after the sudden departure of predecessor Greg Horan.

They’re expected to face an intense grilling about Joe’s care and the hospital’s broader performance under Healthscope’s management. 

The Massas have asked for the public-private partnership that governs the Northern Beaches Hospital (pictured) to be scrapped

The Massas have asked for the public-private partnership that governs the Northern Beaches Hospital (pictured) to be scrapped

The Massas left one of Joe’s shoes with Premier Minns and the other with NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman.

‘I think that we have a sense of relief that in his death, his life (and) his death will also matter,’ his dad said.

In a statement last week, the Massas said ‘No parent should have to walk out of a hospital with their bags instead of their child.

‘Our son should be here today. He had his whole life ahead of him, and we trusted Northern Beaches Hospital to provide the care he needed.’

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