More Victims Identified, Recommendations Remain Unimplemented
The South Australian health system is facing further scrutiny as two more victims of a multi-million dollar bungle involving cochlear implants have been identified. This comes as authorities admit that some recommendations made in a review last year are yet to be implemented.
The issue came to light in May 2022 when concerns were raised with SA Health about young patients at the Women's and Children's Hospital being fitted with incorrectly programmed cochlear implants. This program, which has been running in the state since 2006, resulted in children not being able to hear crucial sounds essential for their development, including learning to speak and listen.
An update released this week by the South Australian Health Department revealed that over $2.8 million has been paid to those affected. This includes 47 families receiving the maximum ex-gratia payment of $50,000 and 94 receiving $5,000. An additional 23 claims for compensation are still pending.
One of the children affected is Logan Smedley, whose family spoke to the ABC last year. They described the experience as "stressful" and believe the hospital's failure to properly activate Logan's cochlear implants for four years has severely delayed his hearing and speech development.
Department of Health chief executive, Robyn Lawrence, acknowledged the need for ongoing monitoring of the affected children to determine the full impact on their development. She expressed gratitude for their patience and commitment, as well as those who have supported the Women and Children's Health Service in improving processes to meet the needs of families and children in the future.
The review into the bungle resulted in 59 recommendations, of which six remain unimplemented. In response, SA Health has recruited additional staff, including audiologists, speech pathologists, a social worker, and a specialist role to improve communication with patients and external providers. Additionally, increased training and staff supervision, including mentoring from interstate specialists, have been implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future.