More than 1,700 pregnant women’s due dates were incorrectly recorded by South Australia’s health department.
The background: SA Health said a technical fault between November 2023 and June 2024 affected the estimated date of delivery entered into medical records.
It resulted in the file data reverting to the first day of their last menstrual period rather than any subsequent updated date from a scan during their antenatal care.
The South Australian health department has said so far, no adverse impacts had been identified. Source: Getty / gorodenkoff
The department’s chief executive, Robyn Lawrence, said 1,600 women affected by the glitch had already given birth.
The key quote: The department is halfway through a review of the 1,600 medical records of the women who have given birth and “no adverse impacts have been found,” she said.
“For many women, any discrepancy would have been manually updated in the system by their clinician.
What else to know: “Midwives reviewed all of the 111 women who are currently pregnant and they have not been impacted,” she said in a statement,” Lawrence said.
She apologised for the error, and any concern or inconvenience caused to those whose files were affected.
Health Minister Chris Picton has ordered an independent review which is expected to take several months.
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