Police investigate death of toddler who waited three hours for hospital bed

Joe Massa died in September last year following treatment at Northern Beaches Hospital.

The toddler, who was in the emergency department, had to wait more than two and a half hours for a bed despite having a dangerously high heartbeat.

His parents took their son to Northern Beaches Hospital for initial treatment before he was transported to Sydney Children's Hospital Randwick where he later died.

His heart attack - caused by significant fluid loss - followed repeated failures by hospital staff to conduct basic observations or respond to concerns of his mother Elouise.

Police have been directed by the NSW Coroner to investigate the death.

Healthscope chief executive Greg Horan expressed his condolences to the family for their loss and "for the care that Joe did not receive" at a parliamentary hearing on February 27.

"I cannot imagine the grief that you're feeling right now," he said.

"We are going to make sure that we (learn from) this tragic incident and ensure that it does not happen again."

It was also revealed at the parliamentary hearing that a baby had died following an emergency C-section at Northern Beaches Hospital on February 22.

with Australian Associated Press