Just over two weeks after baby Andy Jones died four days after the mother gave birth and claims her son's death was the result of grave negligence by the public health system. Today the Ministry of Health is yet investigating another baby's death in the south that is also being blamed on the healthcare system in the south. This time it's a six month old who reportedly died on Friday, May twenty ninth at the Punta Gorda Hospital.
An email sent to 7News details the ordeal the child – who was already ill with fever and dehydration - went through while the mother was trying to see a doctor. That mail claims that when the baby was taken to the San Antonio Polyclinic the mother was told that because there was no doctor available the child could not be attended to. Because the family had no means of transportation and reportedly had to rely on the regular bus run, it took hours for them to return to PG and by then it was too late because they couldn't find the baby's vein to administer intravenous re hydration and the baby died soon after.
Today we called the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Health Dr. Peter Allen for his explanation as to what went wrong and who is responsible. However in that telephone interview he told us that the matter is under investigation.
Dr. Peter Allen, CEO – Ministry of Health
"I can only reiterate at the moment the deep sense of sadness that we do feel at the Ministry and our condolences and we will investigate thoroughly and ensure that anything that has gone wrong, if anything has gone wrong, never goes wrong again."
Jacqueline Godwin,
What is happening at the Punta Gorda Town Hospital because as we mentioned this is the second case, the first case we had involved the death of baby Andy Jones, what is going on at the PG Hospital?
Dr. Peter Allen,
"It is hard to know. It is somewhat baffling. We do have doctors in place, we do have nurses in place, we have the primary care provider clinic where NHI purchases services in place, we have the new polyclinic was recently opened in San Antonio which also has doctors and nurses. Our investigation will tell us where there are any gaps in services that we are offering."
Jacqueline Godwin,
So you'd be surprised to find out if there was no doctor on duty at the San Antonio Polyclinic at the time the mother and this baby arrived to get assistance?
Dr. Peter Allen,
"I would be surprised. San Antonio Polyclinic doesn't have 24 hour care but there is a doctor on call so I would be surprised if the appropriate couldn't have been provided."
On Wednesday a protest is scheduled to be held in front of the Punta Gorda Hospital. Dr. Peter Allen told 7News that they are just about to complete their investigation into the death of baby Andy Jones. According to Dr. Allen they are now awaiting the final review of the investigation and by next week the report should be available.
