The Medical Director of the Trauma and Specialist Hospital in Winneba, Dr. Prah George Kwame, has issued an incident report addressing claims that the hospital abandoned a patient in a bush. The report clarifies that the patient, an unidentified individual injured in a hit-and-run accident on May 29 in the Gomoa Ojobi community, was treated and discharged according to proper procedures.
Dr. Kwame explained that after the accident, the National Ambulance Service contacted the hospital’s Social Welfare Officer to confirm their readiness to receive the patient. The patient was admitted, treated with care and empathy, and provided with necessary medical services despite the absence of family to cover the bills. This included casting Plaster of Paris (POP) on both lower limbs due to tibia fractures, as well as taking responsibility for feeding, medication, and housekeeping during the patient’s six-day hospital stay.
“The patient was declared well and discharged on June 3, 2024,” stated Dr. Kwame, adding that medical records confirm this. Through discussions with the patient, it was established that she was a resident of Gomoa Ojobi. The patient expressed a desire to return to her community, and this was verified by the National Ambulance Service.
Dr. Kwame emphasized that a consensus was reached by the hospital’s social welfare officers to transport the patient back to Gomoa Ojobi, her preferred destination. The hospital ambulance, accompanied by a social welfare officer and a hospital staff member, was assigned to ensure her safe return.
“Before departure, the Social Welfare Officer at Winneba coordinated with her counterpart in Ojobi to inform her of the patient’s return, and an agreement was made for the patient’s transfer,” Dr. Kwame noted. He asserted that the hospital performed its duties responsibly and professionally, ensuring the patient was well-cared for and safely returned to her community.
Dr. Kwame defended the hospital’s reputation, stating, “Our hospital operates with well-trained health professionals who uphold the integrity of the Ghana Health Service. This incident was handled in accordance with our commitment to patient care and empathy.”
The Ghana Health Service has established a five-member committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged abandonment. Dr. Kwame highlighted that the hospital has a history of aiding similar patients and safely returning them to their communities, with records available to support these claims.
Source: sankofaonline.com
