A Melbourne mother whose baby died during delivery at Bacchus Marsh hospital, north-west of Melbourne, says she hopes reforms to the system will spare other families the same tragedy.
Natasha McMillan, who lost her daughter Eloise, said the family should have been celebrating her daughter’s fifth birthday this week.
“Instead, we’re mourning the loss of her for another time, because of the medical negligence that has happened,” Ms McMillan said.
“We lived for four years believing that we lost our daughter due to a common mistake that happens during labour.
“In February this year we found out that it was an avoidable case, and that it was medical negligence that took our daughter away from us.”
The Victorian Government has committed to overhauling hospital safety, introducing a new oversight agency, better training and data sharing to reduce the number of avoidable deaths in hospitals to zero.
The review was brought about after 11 babies were found to have died avoidable deaths at the Bacchus Marsh hospital.
“Any change that’s going to prevent this happening to any other family is welcomed,” said Ms McMillan, who made a submission to the review.
“For another family to have to go through what we’re going through right now I think is just devastating.