A newborn baby died after a hospital wrongly gave it laughing gas instead of oxygen.
A second child remains in critical condition after the two newborns were given nitrous oxide when it was installed as oxygen in the neonatal resuscitation unit at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital in Sydney.
The area’s health Minister Jillian Skinner has apologised for the incident since the mistake was discovered when the second child became seriously ill.
"I am profoundly sorry for the families of a newborn who died and another newborn who was severely affected.
"I deeply regret these families have suffered through such a devastating error. NSW Health will do all it can to support them.
"The oxygen outlet in one of the hospital's theatres was incorrectly installed and certified by BOC Ltd in July 2015."
The hospital’s eight operating theatres have since been inspected with the operating room in question remaining closed.
