A family member of a patient has accused healthcare workers at Minna General Hospital in Niger State of gross negligence, alleging that doctors and nurses abandoned their duty posts and left a critically ill patient unattended for several hours at the Accident and Emergency Unit.
The complainant stated that the patient, who was brought to the hospital in a life-threatening condition, was neglected for over three hours due to a shortage of bed space and the absence of medical personnel on duty.
According to a report by Sahara Reporters, the patient arrived at the hospital around 6 p.m. on Thursday but was not admitted until about 9 p.m., when a bed eventually became available. It was also reported that during this period, no doctor or senior nurse was seen attending to emergency cases.
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“Firstly, there’s no bed to admit our sick patient. Secondly, at night hours, the doctors on duty were not seen whatsoever. The senior nurses posted on duty had left their duty post and secured a place to sleep while knowing fully well the nature of their ward and the responsibilities therein,” the relative claimed.
He further explained that the nurse on duty had begun processing a referral letter to transfer the patient to another hospital before a bed was finally provided.
“They were preparing a referral letter for us to either go to General M.I. Wushishi General Hospital or I.B.B. Specialist Hospital,” he said.
The relative alleged that even after the patient was eventually admitted, the hospital staff failed to check on their condition throughout the night.
“Meanwhile, all through the night, nobody came to check on us whether we are doing fine or if the condition has deteriorated,” he lamented.
He also accused the senior nurses of abandoning their responsibilities and leaving student nurses, who are still under training, to manage patients in the emergency ward.
“They left the student nurses who are interns practising with them to take our people to the Emergency Unit,” he alleged.
According to him, it took his loud outburst before any staff members responded to the situation.
“It was when I shouted and caused a breach of the peace in the area, and some patients’ relatives came out before a few students got up, followed by the nurse,” he explained.
The relative described the incident as “a slap on the profession of nursing and medicine whose ethics and principles are based on saving lives and promoting good health,” while calling on the Niger State authorities to investigate the alleged negligence at Minna General Hospital.
