The head of Perth Children’s Hospital has resigned amid a review following the death of seven-year-old Aishwarya Aswath.
Western Australia’s health department confirmed the departure of Child and Youth Health Service chief executive Aresh Anwar on Thursday.
Dr Anwar, who had held the position since 2018, will finish on Friday.
He was at the helm when Aishwarya died of sepsis in April last year, after presenting at the hospital’s emergency department with a fever.
An internal review into her death found staff had missed opportunities to increase her care despite her parents’ pleas for help.
Camera Icon Dr Aresh Anwar, who had served in the role since 2018, will finish on Friday. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West AustralianCamera IconThe Perth Children’s Hospital. Credit: AAP
The government has since replaced several health service board members and recently appointed a new chief executive to address “cultural challenges” at the hospital.
The president, Rosanna Capolingua, said in a statement that she was confident the health service had “the right equipment”.
“The community can be confident that Child and Adolescent Health Service staff will continue to do their best to provide quality care to children and young people in Western Australia and support them to lead healthier lives,” he said.
Health director general David Russell-Weisz said Dr Anwar had brought dedication and integrity to the role.
Executive Director Valerie Jovanovic will serve as Acting Executive Director while the hiring process is underway.
An inquest into Aishwarya’s death will begin on August 24.
Within 20 minutes of arriving at the hospital, the little girl’s hands were cold, her eyes were discolored, and her breathing and heart rates were significantly elevated.
But an internal review found the seriousness of his condition was not recognized until an hour and 17 minutes later.
She was pronounced dead two hours after entering an intensive care unit, having succumbed to an infection related to group A strep.
An independent report last year found hospital staff had been “exhausted and demoralized” before his death.