Independent Inquiry into Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH)

9 November 2021

The Department of Health has today released the Report of the Independent Inquiry into Perth Children's Hospital (PCH), along with a response from the Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) Board.

WA Health Director General, Dr David Russell-Weisz said the Department of Health and CAHS had accepted the report's 30 recommendations, which cover key areas such as sepsis identification, parent escalation, consumer engagement (particularly culturally and linguistically diverse families), clinical governance, workforce planning and supply and organisational culture.

The Inquiry, which followed the tragic death of Aishwarya Aswath on 3 April 2021, was undertaken by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC), and led by Emeritus Professor Les White, former inaugural NSW Chief Paediatrician and former President of Children's Hospitals Australasia.

WA Health Director General letter to the Minister for Health (PDF 742KB)

Independent Inquiry into Perth Children's Hospital (PCH) (including response from the Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) Board (PDF 5MB)

Independent Inquiry into Perth Children's Hospital (PCH) presentation (Les White) (PDF 623KB)