South Australia’s health department is under scrutiny after potentially miscalculating the due dates of over 1,700 pregnant women. This error has raised concerns that some women may have been induced prematurely. SA Health Minister Chris Picton has ordered an independent investigation into the incident, which affected birthing hospitals across both metropolitan and regional areas over a six-month period ending on June 5.
SA Health is currently conducting a review of affected medical records to assess if any women or babies suffered adverse health effects due to the miscalculations. According to Robyn Lawrence, the department’s CEO, most affected women have already given birth, with about 100 still pregnant. She reassured that there have been no reported adverse outcomes among those already delivered, and efforts are underway to rectify the records of those still expecting.
An internal SA Health document, marked as urgent, revealed that the incident stemmed from a potential miscalculation in the Estimated Date of Delivery (EDD) or Estimated Gestational Age (EGA) fields within their electronic medical record system, Sunrise. This issue arose when maternity admission notes were accessed, resulting in incorrect data being displayed due to an overwrite of the estimated due date by the last menstrual period calculation.
Dr. Lawrence stated that the error has been corrected, though she admitted uncertainty regarding how many of the affected women were induced prematurely. Brian Peat, former head of obstetrics at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, emphasized the importance of accurate due date calculations in ensuring safe deliveries, noting potential complications if deliveries are scheduled too early.
Health authorities have advised affected mothers and families to consult their healthcare providers for reassurance. Meanwhile, an independent review led by SA’s Commissioner for Excellence and Innovation in Health, Keith McNeil, has been commissioned to investigate the incident thoroughly. Minister Picton expressed relief that no serious clinical incidents have been identified so far, promising transparency in addressing any potential health impacts discovered during the ongoing review of medical records.
