Tuesday, 4 March 2025

 Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (13:40): Today I offer a heartfelt apology to the families impacted by the effective closure of the colorectal and pelvic reconstruction service at the Royal Children’s Hospital. The birth of a child should be a time of joy, but for some it is overshadowed by the discovery of a serious medical condition. The Robinson family, as reported in the Warrnambool Standard today, experienced this firsthand. Their son Sidney was born seemingly healthy, only to be diagnosed with Hirschsprung disease, a fatal condition without urgent intervention. He was eventually rushed to the Royal Children’s Hospital by emergency helicopter. He was triaged into the care of the CPRS team within hours of death. The CPRS wraparound care is life changing for patients and families. The dismantling of the CPRS means that newly diagnosed babies such as Sidney are no longer receiving crucial and expert pre- and postsurgery medical care. Bowel washout training from CPRS clinical nurses is no longer available. One child’s surgery review was lost, delaying critical surgery by six months beyond the recommended date. Stomal therapy appointments have been cancelled, and families no longer have access to vital dietitians and psychologists. Local emergency departments and doctors lack the expertise to handle such complex conditions, putting children’s lives at risk. The CPRS offers this irreplaceable service. It is illogical and indefensible for it to be dismantled. State and federal governments and the Royal Children’s Hospital management have failed you.