A four-day delay in alerting families to a possible contamination scare involving baby bottles at a hospital north of Adelaide demonstrates a culture of cover-ups, the South Australian opposition says.
The Lyell McEwin Hospital waited four days to write to 37 families after it became aware baby bottles were mistakenly cleaned with descaler liquid, Opposition Health Spokesman Stephen Wade said.
"It is outrageous that the parents of the infants affected were not notified immediately," Mr Wade said.
"Minister for Health Peter Malinauskas needs to reveal when he first became aware of the bungle and why there was a delay in revealing the mistake."
Head of paediatrics Mark Thesinger said the babies had a low risk of mouth irrigations as a result of the error.
"All washing agents are heavily diluted during the washing cycle, so the risk of any ingestion is minimal," Dr Thesinger said.
The doctor said there had been no reports of adverse reactions over the period from January 1-6 and all infant bottles cleaned with the descaler had been discarded.
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