Cerebral palsy deaths unrelated to centre practices: report

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu

Taken from perthnow

December 14, 2007 10:55am

AN independent report has found practices at Perth's Centre for Cerebral Palsy were not to blame for 17 deaths since 2001, the WA government said.

A nine-person inquiry committee conducted an investigation following complaints from families over the deaths of the cerebral palsy sufferers at the centre.

Disability Services Minister Sheila McHale today said the committee's report concluded the deaths were not preventable and did not reflect a lack of care.

''(It) found that these people required very high levels of support and had complex medical issues,'' Ms McHale said in a statement.

However, the review did find problems at the centre and recommended immediate reforms.

"The review found the organisation has some substantial problems, particularly with clinical and management practices and the presence of a poor organisational culture,'' Ms McHale said.

"These problems will remain unless decisive action is taken by the board and management team.''

The centre's incoming board chairman Keith Chapman has told the minister all the report's recommendations will be implemented as a matter of urgency, Ms McHale said.

Ms McHale said the review acknowledged TCCP had implemented a series of reforms to improve the level of clinical care over the past 12 months.

WA's Disability Services Commission is currently developing a new monitoring system for standards in disability services.

“I am assured by Disability Services Commission director general Ron Chalmers that his agency has been developing a new, highly rigorous monitoring system and that this system will be designed to be the best in the nation,” Ms McHale said.

“I am aware of the challenges of providing support for people with profound disabilities at a time when attracting and retaining appropriately skilled staff is getting harder,” she said.

AAP

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