Toddler's Sepsis Death Spurs New 'Raise It' Hospital Safety Program in NSW
The mother of two-year-old Pippa White feels a profound sense of relief that her daughter's tragic death from sepsis at a regional hospital has not been in vain. Annah White, from Swansea, has channeled her grief into advocacy, stating, "I channel all my drive into ways to make change. It's the only way I can mother Pip now."
New Program Announced in Memory of Pippa
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park unveiled the "Raise It" program on Thursday, a statewide initiative partly created in memory of Pippa. This program urges people to call a dedicated phone number if they are concerned their loved ones are deteriorating in public hospitals.
Mr Park emphasized, "Patients and families often recognize early changes first. Trusting your instincts when you or someone you love comes into hospital is critical. You don't need medical knowledge. You don't need to be certain. You might notice small changes or feel something just isn't right. If you're concerned, raise it."
Coronial Inquest Reveals Preventable Death
A coronial inquest heard last year that Pippa died from sepsis and pneumonia after health staff at Cowra and Orange hospitals failed to recognize the symptoms. Six medical experts testified that the toddler's death at Orange Hospital was preventable.
The inquest revealed she was not placed on the paediatric sepsis pathway, despite having a heart rate of 171 beats per minute, which is in the "red zone" for the disease.
How the 'Raise It' Program Works
The three-step Raise It program involves:
- First speaking to a nurse or doctor.
- Then asking the nurse in charge for a clinical review.
- Finally, calling the Raise It phone number to speak to a senior health worker.
Mrs White and the parents of Joe Massa, who died at age two at Northern Beaches Hospital, helped establish this new program. The inquest into Pippa's death, which is ongoing, heard that her mother had asked for the previous program, REACH (Recognise, Engage, Act, Call, Help), to escalate concerns, but felt ignored.
"I was totally ignored," Mrs White said, noting that the REACH poster at the hospital "didn't even have a phone number on it." She expressed honor in being part of Raise It, adding, "I feel like we're making change. One thing I love is they're listening to parents. They've implemented things we've suggested."
Remembering Pippa: A Ray of Sunshine
Mrs White described her daughter's death as having "rocked us to our core." She shared, "She was so perfect and gorgeous. She was a ray of sunshine who loved everyone. She had this beautiful old-world glamour. Burnt orange and yellow were her favourite colours. She loved playing with dolls, dancing and arts and crafts."
The family had been living in their dream home at Cowra. Pippa had a twin brother named Leo and four other siblings. "My husband Brock and I were both in the mining industry," Mrs White said.
Timeline of a Tragedy
On Sunday, June 12, 2022, a public holiday, Mrs White rushed Pippa to Cowra's emergency department with a fever and vomiting. A nurse advised her to take Pippa home due to the hospital being busy with a critically-ill patient.
When Pippa became sicker, Mrs White took her back to the emergency department. The inquest heard she was not assessed until 7pm—five hours after first being triaged. She was transferred to Orange Hospital, arriving by ambulance at 9:20pm.
An emergency ambulance team was called to take her to Westmead Children's Hospital. The team arrived, but Pippa suffered two cardiac arrests at Orange Hospital. She died at 1pm on Monday, June 13, two months before her third birthday.
This heartbreaking loss has now catalyzed a significant change in NSW's healthcare system, aiming to prevent similar tragedies in the future through the empowering Raise It program.
