Women who gave evidence to the investigation into shocking negligence at Mackay Base Hospital have today been forced to stand outside the hospital and watch the handing down of a damning hospital report on their phones.

The damning report found substandard care led to the deaths of three infants and left women with lifelong physical and emotional injuries.

Eight women who gave evidence to the investigation arrived at the hospital today to hear the findings released in person, only to be barred from Health Minister Yvette D’Ath’s press conference.

“They stood outside on the pavement, it was hot in Mackay this morning, and they had to watch this announcement by the Health Minister on our Nine News Facebook page. It was so hard to watch, they were in tears,” Nine News reporter Jess Millward told Neil Breen.

Press PLAY below to hear Jess Millward telling Neil Breen what happened

“These are the deeply personal accounts of women. Some of them lost children. Some of them will never have children again. Most of them have the most horrific injuries.

“They just wanted to watch it in person, instead they had to watch a live stream that unfortunately kept dropping out.

“She (Yvette D’Ath) said she didn’t want to use them as props. They didn’t want to be used as props either, they just wanted the courtesy of being there in person.”

After the press conference, Ms D’Ath did eventually speak to the women in person.

Some women who have given evidence to the investigation have arrived to hear @YvetteDAth media conference. They’ve been told they can’t come in. Some are in tears @9NewsQueensland pic.twitter.com/9x78eZ7qBP

— Jess Millward (@JessMillward9) September 30, 2022

(Image: Jess Millward/Twitter/Google Maps)