The Management of the private hospital in Georgetown that was accused of being responsible for the death of a newborn on Monday last said it found “no failure” by its staff.
Mother of dead baby: Tamera Leslie
In a statement, the hospital said as part of its internal investigation, management met with the mother of the dead premature baby, Tamera Leslie, on Wednesday.
At the meeting, the hospital said Leslie was given the opportunity to raise concerns about the care she received at the hospital.
“It should be noted that prior to this meeting, no attempt was made by the patient to raise her concerns with the Hospital. However, having reviewed the patient’s main concerns, as well as statements from the nurses and doctor that provided care to her, we have found no failure on the part of our staff. All standard medical operating protocols were followed,” the statement read.
The hospital also encouraged patients who are dissatisfied with the care they have received at the facility to report same to the hospital’s management.
On Wednesday last, 20-year-old Leslie and her family came to the forefront demanding answers after the young woman lost her newborn at the private hospital.
Leslie and her family had accused the private institution of being more concerned about making money rather than saving lives.
The teacher of Bent Street Wortmanville, Georgetown, contacted officials at the Health Ministry to conduct a thorough investigation into the death of her newborn daughter.
Leslie reportedly started experiencing labour pains and went to the Georgetown Hospital, but went to seek private medical care after she was asked to wait. The woman recalled that when she arrived at the private hospital, she was taken into a room, where she was seen by a midwife.
Leslie recalled that she was put to lie down, and the nurse began examining her. At that time, she was told that she was in active labour and that her child, the membrane and her water bag were intact.
She said she was later told that she had to deliver her six-month-old child. Leslie recalled that her newborn daughter was breathing after birth. She claimed that soon after the delivery, she was told that the baby had died.
The young woman, in an interview with Guyana Times, contended that employees at the hospital repeatedly questioned whether the family could afford the services at the private medical facility.
In fact, the devasted young woman related that the nurse asked if the family could afford to pay for an incubator, which would have helped to save the infant’s life.
The woman told the media that her daughter was not confirmed dead by a doctor, and the hospital refused to give her any document to confirm the child’s death. As such, she continues to call on the relevant authorities to launch an investigation.
