A Call for Urgent Reform

Joe’s parents met with the Premier Chris Minns, Health Minister Ryan Park and Secretary, NSW Health, Susan Pearce AM on 26th February 2025.

It was a productive and heartfelt meeting that secured the following key actions.

• Joe’s Law – The NSW government introduced ‘Joe’s Law’ on 27 March 2025. A world-leading Prohibition Bill to amend the Health Services Act 1997, prohibiting new public-private partnerships for acute hospital services in NSW. The legislation underscores the potential risks associated with PPPs in healthcare and reinforces the importance of public accountability in hospital management.
• Independent Review – Into paediatric care at the NBH has been completed. NSW Health oversaw the review, led by the Clinical Excellence Commission. The overarching aim is to prevent further tragic losses and implement the recommendations urgently.
• Parliamentary Inquiry – A NSW Parliamentary inquiry, initiated in early 2025, is investigating the safety and quality of services at the Northern Beaches Hospital, following the death of Joe and reports of ongoing safety concerns and staffing issues at the private operator-managed public hospital. The Public Accounts Committee is examining patient safety, system responses to adverse events, staff standards, and the overall effectiveness of the public-private partnership, with a scope extending back to the hospital’s opening in 2018
• Joe’s Rule – An evolution of the REACH Protocol established in 2010 by NSW Health. The Government has committed to an ongoing public awareness campaign to raise awareness and save lives – similar to the Cancer Council’s ‘Slip Slop Slap’ campaign promoting sun safety. In addition, the Massas have called on every patient in all Emergency Departments (as a starting point) to receive a text message on admission about Joe’s Rule, ensuring awareness, empowerment and action and for there to be one centralised number across NSW.
• Secondary to this we are calling on the nation-wide implementation of the Protocol. Ideally we would like one national number to be available across Australia as a clear, robust and effective tool for patient escalation.
• Coronial Inquiry- Strikeforce Carlton was set-up under direction by the NSW Coroner to investigate the death of Joe. The investigation commenced on 27 February 2025. The purpose of the inquest is to:
  Establish the cause of death: Determine the medical reason for Joe’s death. 
  Determine the circumstances: Understand the sequence of events and conditions leading to Joe’s death. 
  Make recommendations: Suggest ways to prevent similar deaths from occurring in the future. 
  Promote accountability: Ensure that relevant authorities and systems are held to account for their roles in the death. 
• Budget Estimates – The Massas called on Healthscope to appear before Budget Estimates on 27 February. Transcript available here. Responses to supplementary questions provided to Healthscope are also available.

In Addition we are calling on:

• NBH operated by the State Government – Agreement has been reached to transition Northern Beaches Hospital to public ownership. The Massas meet regularly with the Treasurer and Health Minister in relation to this matter.
• Urgent IT System Overhaul – Healthscope is upgrading its Telstra Health IT features. We believe this IT system is not adequate and are calling for this system to be replaced with Cerner FirstNet.