An engineer at a Sydney hospital has been stood down over a fatal oxygen-mix up in the birthing unit, and NSW Health has ceased using the company that installed the gas lines involved.

Last month, NSW Health confirmed three newborn babies were affected during incidents with the oxygen-supply outlets at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital in Sydney’s south-west.

One infant died and another suffered suspected brain damaged when they were accidentally given nitrous oxide — also known as laughing gas — instead of oxygen from gas lines installed in the birthing suite.

The State Government has released an interim report into the mix-up, stating the engineer involved in commissioning the gas line had been stood down, pending the outcome of the investigation.

The interim report also confirmed NSW Health had stopped using the company BOC Ltd for installation, commissioning and testing works at all hospitals across the state until the investigation was completed.

Health Minister Jillian Skinner said it appeared both the hospital and the company that installed the gas were to blame.

“It is my strong belief that BOC Limited, which installed and certified the medical gas outlet, and Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, which was required under Australian standards to check it, will share responsibility for this tragedy”
- Jillian Skinner

Coronial inquest to examine if other staff to blame

Ms Skinner said the full investigation and a coronial inquest into the baby boy’s death would help identify whether other hospital managers or staff contributed to the tragedy.

“If so, they’ll be held to account,” she said.

The gas lines had been installed after an oxygen bottle ran out in a birthing suite while a baby was being resuscitated in January 2014.

That baby survived the incident.

Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital in Sydney’s south-west. Photo: Facebook

Ms Skinner said every medical gas outlet installed in NSW Health facilities over the past five years was now being checked to ensure the correct gas was being omitted.

She said a state-wide audit had also been extended to every medical gas outlet in NSW, irrespective of when it was installed.

The Minister said any future upgrade to medical gas outlets in NSW public hospitals would be required to undergo independent verification.

Ms Skinner had previously defended her handling of the matter and dismissed calls by the State Opposition to resign.

The State Opposition has declared it will move immediately for an Upper House inquiry into the incidents, saying the internal investigation the Minister ordered is inadequate.

The full report is due to be completed by August 25.

– ABC