The family of a newborn girl who died after childbirth complications at the Northern Beaches Hospital break their silence

The parents of a baby who died after birth at the Northern Beaches Hospital have broken their silence, describing their overwhelming grief at the death of “our baby girl Harper”. Leah Pitman, 34, went into labour with her second child and was admitted to the Northern Beaches Hospital on February 22. Nine newspapers reported a caesarean section was ordered, but Ms Pitman gave birth and the C-section was never performed. Following complications during the birth, Ms Pitman and baby Harper were transferred to the Royal North Shore Hospital, where the newborn died on February 23. “It is with overwhelming sadness that we confirm the passing of our baby girl Harper on Sunday 23rd February due to complications in birth at Northern Beaches Hospital,” the couple said in a statement to Nine. “We appreciate the outpouring of love, support and thoughts during this incredibly horrific time and ask for privacy as we continue to grieve our baby girl.” A Northern Beaches Hospital spokesperson said the incident would be investigated in line with the NSW Health Policy. “Northern Beaches Hospital extends its condolences to the family for their loss,” the spokesman said. “Out of respect for patient and family confidentiality, we will not be discussing an individual patient’s condition or treatment.” Just days earlier, the hospital made headlines over the death of 2-year-old boy Joe Massa. Police have been ordered to investigate the death of Joe, who died after allegedly receiving inadequate treatment at the hospital. Joe was taken to Northern Beaches Hospital on September 14 after he vomited, but his parents Eloise and Danny allege he waited more than two hours for a bed. The young boy was allegedly wrongly triaged into a lower priority despite a high heart rate and severe loss of fluid, then refused intravenous fluid. He was transferred to Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick after he suffered a cardiac arrest about three hours after arriving at the emergency department. He then died as a result of brain damage. The hospital’s operator, Healthscope, accepted there was an “underappreciation of the severity of Joe’s illness and a delay in recognising deterioration” in a statement sent to NewsWire.