The island’s health sector is again facing scrutiny after claims that a pregnant woman was forced to give birth on a sidewalk because she was turned away by staff at the Chapelton hospital in Clarendon.
A relative told The Gleaner that the pregnant woman was turned away by a nurse who told her that she should go to the May Pen Hospital.
The relative further said that before the pregnant woman could get a taxi, she went into labour and eventually gave birth on a sidewalk.
Both mother and child were subsequently taken to the said Chapelton hospital for preliminary care after which they were transferred to the May Pen hospital.
They are said to be doing well.
Parish manager for Health Services at the Clarendon Health Department, Joseph Grant, says the matter is being investigated. At the same time, Grant told our news centre that information he received indicated that the pregnant woman was a high-risk patient and was advised before her due date that Chapelton was not equipped to handle these kinds of pregnancies and that she should deliver her baby at the May Pen Hospital.
He says when she turned up at Chapelton, she was checked by staff but did not appear to be in labour and was referred to May Pen.
God was with her then, because if she was highrisk and give birth pan sidewalk? Or the hospital a try cover them dirty tracks
Mi nah condemn di hospital, because mi know of these things happening, before dem even fi have baby di hospital tell dem seh dem nuh equipped and dem still go there….
Is same so a girl I kno go jubilee and dem did tell her that she must go up to UWI and give her the papers and everything and when she fi deliver she go jubilee and di baby end up dead and den she waan fi sue dem
U can be di best doctor and nurse in di world but if u don’t hav di equipment there is so much u can do and no more! It sounds hard but truth is truth!
This sounds like the other way around because I know if the hospitals in kingston can’t handle certain situations, they are sent to Jubliee….
What happen to da Lady here (gave birth on the sidewalk) shoulda NEVER happen. SMH.
Alot of these fake ass nurses have a lot to ansa tu when dem stan in fronta GOD.
There is no respect for certain things in our culture. Pregnant women without money are treated like shit in most of the pubic hospitals. If dem nuh hab husbands or underage dog nyam dem suppa if dem expect respect and caring treatment in some of these places.
No one should be turned away when them need medical care period. What kind of check the so called nurse do that as them turn way the woman the baby come down on the sidewalk. Did they not see she was already ready to give birth?