The Trauma and Specialist Hospital in Winneba has responded to claims that a patient was abandoned and left to die, following her discharge from the facility.
In a report to the 5-member committee established to investigate the incident available to Metro TV, the Medical Director at the hospital, Dr. Prah George Kwame, firmly denied these claims, emphasizing that the patient received appropriate care and support during her stay and upon her discharge.
The patient, a victim of a hit-and-run accident, was admitted to the hospital on May 29, 2024, after being picked up by the National Ambulance Service in Gomoa Ojobi.
According to Dr. Prah, the victim was treated for fractures in both tibia bones, receiving Plaster of Paris (POP) casts on her lower limbs.
During her stay, the hospital provided comprehensive care, including feeding, medication, and housekeeping.
At one point during her treatment, Dr. Prah claims, the patient became disoriented and exhibited violent behavior. However, she eventually regained strength and consciousness, becoming calm and expressing a desire to return to her community.
After being declared well by the attending clinician, a consensus was reached by social welfare officers to transport her back to Gomoa Ojobi.
The hospital arranged for its ambulance, accompanied by a social welfare officer and hospital staff, to transport the patient.
She was clothed and provided with a wheelchair. Prior to departure, the hospital’s social welfare officer informed her counterpart in Gomoa Ojobi of the patient’s return, and assurance was given that she would be received.
“The Trauma and Specialist Hospital, Winneba, is operated by well-trained health professionals committed to maintaining the highest standards of care and ethics. The hospital has a longstanding tradition of supporting vulnerable patients and ensuring their safe return to their communities,” Dr. Prah George Kwame stated.
Dr. Prah emphasized that this incident is being viewed as a learning experience, and measures will be implemented to prevent any recurrence.
He acknowledged the public’s concerns and sentiments, expressing appreciation for their understanding.
The hospital management reiterated that this was not the first instance of playing a “Good Samaritan” role by caring for and safely discharging patients. They have records to verify their commitment to patient welfare and community service.In conclusion, Dr. Kwame reassured the public that the hospital remains dedicated to providing compassionate and professional care to all patients, upholding the integrity of the Ghana Health Service and the hospital itself.
Below is Dr. Prah George Kwame’s full report on the incident
REPORT ON AN INCIDENT INVOLVING UNKNOWN PERSON BROUGHT TO TRAUMA AND SPECIALIST HOSPITAL ON THE 29. MAY, 2024
On the above-mentioned date, the National Ambulance Service called the Social Welfare Officer of the hospital to inquire as to whether the hospital was ready to accept an unknown knocked down person by a ‘hit and ran’ driver and the response was in the affirmative.
The victim of the accident was brought to the hospital by the National Ambulance Service accompanied by the Social Welfare Officer of Gomoa Ojobi and treatment process started in earnest on the same day.
After the necessary examinations were done, Plaster of Paris (POP) was cast on both lower limbs of the patient due to fracture of the tibia bones. The hospital as usual took absolute responsibility for feeding, medication and housekeeping of the patient. The patient had been on admission for six (6) days and finally discharged on the 3’d June, 2024 after being declared well. The medical record is tendered in as evidence.
Meanwhile, based on the outcome of the interaction between the Social Welfare Officer and the patient, it was established that the patient hailed from Gomoa Ojobi community and that also confirmed where the National Ambulance picked her up.
At certain point in time during the treatment process the patient became dis oriented and started to exhibit some amount of violence. However, after gaining some strength and consciousness, the patient was calm and wished to have been sent back to where she was picked up.
Moreover, after the patient was declared well by the Clinician, coupled with the fact that she was itching to leave the hospital, a consensus was reached by the two social welfare officers to send her back to Gomoa Ojobi as agreed by the two social workers.
At this juncture, the hospital Ambulance accompanied by the social welfare officer and a staff of the hospital were detailed to transport her accordingly to the preferred destination of her choice after clothing her nicely and made available to her a wheel chair.
Again, before the departure from the hospital to Ojobi, the Social Welfare Officer interacted with his counterpart at Ojobi to inform her that the patient was being brought back to Ojobi and she assured to take over.
Sincerely speaking, if one should objectively analyse the situation at hand, one would realize that the hospital had played its role as expected of it by taking care of the patient, empathize with her but unfortunately the inevitable occurred.
It would interest the public to know that Trauma and Specialist Hospital, Winneba is being operated by well-trained health professionals and will not for a moment misconduct themselves to dent the corporate image of the Ghana Health Service and its own image as a secondary referral facility.
Furthermore, mention should be made clearly that this had not been the first time this hospital had played “Good Samaritan “role by taking care of patients of such calibre and delivering them back safely to their community after getting well. Records are available to authenticate the veracity of this claim.
Management would like to appreciate the sentiments expressed by the public regarding this unfortunate incidence. This is a learning curve and a bitter lesson to learn, and promised not to repeat it again in the life history of the hospital.
SIGNED
Dr. Prah George Kwame (PhD)
Medical Director
By: Nancy Oye Tanihu | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
