Pip with the special love rock she found in Penrith in May 2022, just weeks before she tragically died at Orange Base Hospital on 13 June, 2022.
The second week of the coronial inquest into the death of two-yearold Canowindra girl, Pippa Mae White commenced on Monday, May 26 at the NSW State Coroners Court in Lidcombe. This follows the first week of hearings held in July 2024. Pippa’s family, led by her parents Annah and Brock White, are hoping the inquest will finally provide answers regarding the circumstances of her death and drive urgent systemic change within the public health system.
Annah White says: “It is very evident to us that our daughter Pippa should not have died. We believe if NSW health staff had just followed the procedures already in place Pip would have survived.
“People in NSW who require emergency treatment in public hospitals are in huge danger because of the broken hospital system, not just from their health emergency. I don’t believe most people in the community realise how bad it really is and how significant the risk and harm associated with system failures is.”
Pippa died from Sepsis at Orange Hospital on June 13, 2022, the day after presenting to Cowra Hospital with her mother. The inquest is examining the medical care Pippa received at Cowra and Orange Hospitals to determine if her death could have been prevented and aims to highlight any critical errors or structural problems within the NSW hospital system.
The upcoming hearing, will hear evidence from Pippa’s parents, Annah and Brock White, two nurses, and representatives from NSW Health and the Local Health District. Medical experts will submit a joint report they compiled following a conclave and are scheduled to give evidence.
Annah says: “We have read a joint report from the medical experts that we believe demonstrates the health system failed our daughter. We need change; this isn’t good enough.”
The inquest is scheduled to run from 26 May 26 to 30 May, 2025, with further expert evidence scheduled for 19 and 20 November, 2025.