MOH to work with NUH to 'thoroughly investigate' after pregnant woman lost baby: Ong Ye Kung
Staff Writer, Singapore
·Editorial Team
Fri, 25 March 2022, 11:33 pm·3-min read
"Farewell Baby Titus..Be a good boy okay!! Daddy and Mummy always love you!!" wrote Facebook user Mee Pok Tah. (PHOTO: Mee Pok Tah/Facebook)
SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health (MOH) will work with the National University Hospital (NUH) to conduct a "thorough investigation", after a heavily pregnant woman who was left unattended for hours at the hospital's emergency department (ED) lost her child, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Friday (25 March).
"We take a serious view of such incidents, and any lapses or shortcomings will be rectified. Any lessons will be shared with the rest of the healthcare system to ensure such incidents do not happen again," he wrote in a Facebook post.
Ong, who had just returned from a working visit to Kuala Lumpur, added that he had discussed the matter with MOH's director of medical services Kenneth Mak.
They are aware that the NUH has been in contact with the family and extending full support to them, he said.
Ong also noted that it was very important that “we continue to support our healthcare workers”, regardless of the investigation’s outcome.
"Unfortunately, there have been more reports of abuse of healthcare workers recently. I seek everyone’s understanding that in this pandemic crisis, healthcare workers have been going through a very challenging and difficult time," Ong said.
He said that healthcare workers have been doing their very best to ensure all emergency cases are properly attended to, on top of taking care of COVID-19 patients and subjecting themselves to risk.
"Let’s continue to show them support and understanding, even as the NUH fully investigates the matter," said Ong.
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His comments come a day after the NUH issued an apology to the family after the 36-year-old pregnant woman's experience was shared on social media by her husband.
The man, who goes by the name of "Mee Pok Tah" on his Facebook page, said his wife was "losing excessive blood" and was taken to the hospital on 15 March. After the initial triage at the ED, the man said his wife was left unattended for two hours before being sent to a labour ward.
The hospital, in a Facebook post on Thursday, had said that the two-hour wait "should not have been the case in this circumstance".
"During this time, we should have done more to provide closer monitoring and care, as well as to update the patient of her condition and the transfer," it added.
The hospital said that the woman was immediately attended to and cared for by a team led by two senior consultants when she arrived at the labour ward.
An ultrasound scan subsequently showed the absence of a fetal heartbeat, caused by placental abruption, a rare and unpredictable pregnancy complication.
The hospital noted that it was managing three other expectant patients with COVID-19 in the ED and labour ward on the night of the incident.
"We will review the process of managing expectant patients who are admitted into ED when the labour ward is full so that such incidents do not happen again," it added. "We are deeply saddened by the family’s loss and will continue to provide care and support to them during this difficult period."
