REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Wednesday October 25, 1972

GOLD Coast detectives investigated injuries to six babies born in the maternity wing of the Southport Hospital.

Hospital board chairman J.B Rutherford said the injuries ranged from bruising to broken bones.

He said police inquiries had failed to gain evidence that would support a charge against any person.

But as a result of the investigation a nurse had been suspended by the hospital.

Mr Rutherford said five infant girls and one boy had been injured. All of the babies had been examined by an orthopaedic surgeon.

Mr Rutherford’s statement followed inquiries by the Gold Coast Bulletin into reports of injuries to near-newborn babies at the hospital.

The Bulletin was told a fiveday-old baby at the hospital had been transferred to the Pindara Private Hospital after a claim was made that the infant had a broken limb.

The family doctor looking after the mother and baby was reported to be “very upset” about the injury and called in an orthopaedic surgeon. Further information gleaned by the Bulletin revealed at least four more babies had been injured at the hospital recently.

Maternity staff were reported to be extremely distressed about the injuries and some senior staff broke down and cried when they learned what had happened.

The first injury was discovered in September 1972 and involved a baby born at the hospital in late July that year.

Hospital authorities were believed to have taken no action because there was nothing suspicious.