…newborn dies hours after delivery
The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation yesterday issued the following statement in response to the article published in yesterday’s edition of the Stabroek News, captioned, ‘Newborn dies hours after delivery – mother blames GPH staff’: It must be stated that the patient presented to GPHC’s Maternity Unit close to 21:00hrs on the evening of June 4, 2012, after she was referred from a Health Centre at the time of her clinic visit, the morning shortly after 08:00hrs. The patient was not in labour when she presented to the hospital and was not in any state of emergency.
The patient had reached a certain gestational stage but was not scheduled to deliver on the day of her admission (as was stated); had that been the case, it would stand to reason that she would have presented earlier to the institution. Further, it was explained to the patient, by both nurses and doctors, that symptoms that she was experiencing were relative to her condition. She was stable up until the time of her delivery. The patient experienced a sudden abruption, of which there was no prior sign, and reportedly could not have been predicted by any physician, for as was previously mentioned, both mother and foetus were recorded as being well.
The patient reportedly stated that she informed the nurses and doctors that she had previously undergone a caesarian section which meant that another was the only option; however, obstetricians have highlighted that it does not always follow that caesarian section must be done because a patient would have had one before. There is a risk with either option. Physicians must concur and perform that which is less risky.
GPHC will not speculate on the cause of the infant’s death. However, it will state that the infant’s prognosis was very poor after delivery, and the child was in severe respiratory distress. A post mortem is scheduled for next week and this should determine the cause of death.
The hospital acknowledges that this, among other such cases, is extremely tragic. Management and staff empathize with the mother and other relatives of the deceased infant. However, it will categorically state that no protocols were breached with the management and treatment of this patient or her infant.  Further, it is understandable that patients and relatives would seek answers about the demise of their loved-ones, and may hastily use the press as a means of acquiring those answers; however, the hospital will not accept unnecessary blame.
It is noteworthy that hospital officials have consulted on the case and have advised the patient and the late infant’s father accordingly, and is pleased to state that the meeting ended amicably.
In addition, certain recommendations were made during the aforementioned consultations and management has already initiated implementation which will register a boost in the Obstetrics and Gynaecological care that the hospital provides. Such initiatives include: the introduction of the Master’s Degree in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the training of ultrasound technicians who will be capable of conducting and accurately interpreting results of those tests, furnishing and commissioning of a theatre in the Maternity Unit, and improving and increasing access to foetal monitoring, among other developments.
These plans are afoot to further enhance the service that the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation provides.

Public Relations Office
Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation