A TEAM of clinical experts has been sent into two southwestern Sydney hospitals by the NSW Health Department after allegations of medical malpractice were linked to several deaths.

The damning investigation by the state’s Health Care Complaints Commission into Camden and Campbelltown hospitals could trigger damages actions against doctors, nurses and administrators.

The report of the investigation into alleged clinical malpractice at the hospitals was leaked to Sydney’s Sun-Herald newspaper, embarrassing the NSW Government.

The report highlighted the case of a 41-year-old mother Dawn Alexander, who had recently given birth to her fourth child, being misdiagnosed with the flu and turned away by staff at Campbelltown Hospital. She died of septicaemia three days later.

The paper reported that Macarthur Area Health Service staff, who initially reported more than 100 claims of mismanagement, negligence and patient neglect, claim they have received nothing but victimisation and grief. The HCCC described their claims as “overwhelmingly justified”.

The 10-month HCCC investigation found that between 1999 and 2003, at least 17 patients at the two hospitals died as a result of “unsafe, inadequate or questionable care”.

The findings also suggest that more than 60 per cent of patients whose treatment was scrutinised were subjected to “unsafe standards” of hospital care.

NSW Health Minister Morris Iemma has ordered an independent taskforce — consisting of an administrator and three clinical experts — to examine the preliminary HCCC report.

He said medical staff who had had allegations made against them had been given three to four weeks to respond.

“In 2002, staff from Camden and Campbelltown hospitals raised a number of serious allegations pertaining to clinical care and operational matters at those facilities,” he said.

“Given the gravity of those allegations, they were referred to the Health Care Complaints Commission … for comprehensive investigation.”

Mr Iemma said that to comment further on the allegations, before the individuals and organisations involved had had an opportunity to respond, would be a denial of natural justice.

He assured the public that any issues dealt with in the final report, expected within two months, would be responded to “seriously and appropriately”.

Asked to respond to allegations that the 17 deaths were just the tip of an iceberg, Mr Iemma said he could not say. “I know there has been a large number of complaints and allegations made,” he said.

NSW Opposition Leader John Brogden said Premier Bob Carr needed to take direct responsibility for the shocking state of the two hospitals.

“He needs to stop talking about his plans after NSW politics and concentrate on fixing problems with the NSW health system,” he said.