The peace at the University College Hospital (UCH) was, on
Monday evening, truncated when a nurse at the hospital’s accident and emergency
unit was said to have been assaulted by a Deputy Director at the DSS, over a
misunderstanding on patients brought in dead.
Monday evening, truncated when a nurse at the hospital’s accident and emergency
unit was said to have been assaulted by a Deputy Director at the DSS, over a
misunderstanding on patients brought in dead.
The nurse was said to have been slapped and her head knocked
on the wall by the security operative, leading to the hospitals’ branch of the
Nigerian Nurses and Midwives Association (NNANM) going on a 48-hour warning
strike to demand an apology.
on the wall by the security operative, leading to the hospitals’ branch of the
Nigerian Nurses and Midwives Association (NNANM) going on a 48-hour warning
strike to demand an apology.
The 48-hours strike which entered its second day on
Wednesday, however, left some of the services at the hospital at its lowest
ebb.
Wednesday, however, left some of the services at the hospital at its lowest
ebb.
Although, some old patients of the hospital at its
outpatient clinics were seen waiting to be attended to by other health workers
in the hospital, patients newly coming in or that requires to be booked newly
for specialist care were turned back.
outpatient clinics were seen waiting to be attended to by other health workers
in the hospital, patients newly coming in or that requires to be booked newly
for specialist care were turned back.
UCH’s Chief Medical Director, Professor Temitope Alonge,
reacting to the incidence, which he described as unfortunate, assured that the
incidence had been resolved and that senior nurses had not joined the strike.
reacting to the incidence, which he described as unfortunate, assured that the
incidence had been resolved and that senior nurses had not joined the strike.
He said: “We expect that they will have a congress today
(Wednesday) and then call off this unfortunate 48-hours strike. It is totally
unfortunate and apologies have been rendered to the nurses’ association.”
(Wednesday) and then call off this unfortunate 48-hours strike. It is totally
unfortunate and apologies have been rendered to the nurses’ association.”
Alonge said the hospital’s policy on patients brought in
dead was what triggered off the misunderstanding, and not because the law
enforcement agent and nurses wanted to be at each other’s throat.
dead was what triggered off the misunderstanding, and not because the law
enforcement agent and nurses wanted to be at each other’s throat.
According to him, “Often times, people do not understand that
such is a coroner’s case and that such should be handled by the Oyo State
government.”
such is a coroner’s case and that such should be handled by the Oyo State
government.”
Alonge said the hospital’s policy required that the cause of
death of such patients be ascertained to rule out either homicide or suicide,
adding that it was a coroner’s case that ought to be handled by the Oyo State
government.
death of such patients be ascertained to rule out either homicide or suicide,
adding that it was a coroner’s case that ought to be handled by the Oyo State
government.
“What we agreed upon is that when such corpses come, we
inform Oyo State government and get permission before we do autopsies on them.
This policy, unfortunately does not exclude anybody, if a patient is brought in
dead to the hospital.”
inform Oyo State government and get permission before we do autopsies on them.
This policy, unfortunately does not exclude anybody, if a patient is brought in
dead to the hospital.”
Tribune
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