The Police have initiated an investigation into an alleged attack on the staff of Suhum Government Hospital by the family of a deceased patient.
The incident reportedly occurred in the hospital’s emergency ward on Wednesday, June 26, where several health professionals were physically assaulted, and sliding windows were damaged.
According to sources, the deceased, a 29-year-old miner, was involved in an accident near the Top Oil fuel station in Suhum in the Eastern Region while returning from Accra to Anyinam on the same day.
He was rushed to Suhum Hospital for treatment but unfortunately passed away.
Following his death, the family accused the hospital staff of negligence and failing to transfer him to the Eastern Regional Hospital for more advanced treatment.
They informed some friends of the deceased, who later stormed the hospital and physically assaulted the nurses on duty.
However, the timely intervention of Police personnel from the District Command, prevented the situation from escalating further and calm was restored.
A family member explained to the media, “I was at the barbering salon when I had a call that our friend had gotten an accident so I went with the barber. When we got there, they were about to send him to the X-ray department. He could even talk and was very happy when he saw me. We were even communicating while taking the scan.
“So after the X-ray, the nurse in charge called us that the situation was serious and all his thighs were broken. He referred us to someone in Kumasi who could help him.”
“They sent him to emergency and asked me to get a card for him before they could give him medication. When I went for the card, there was a network issue so I had to wait. They later gave him the medication while I waited to get the card.
Channel One News reports that the incident has left the hospital staff traumatized.
A security personnel at the hospital who witnessed the incident told the media that the deceased friends and family attacked staff indiscriminately.
“When I came on duty, they said he was injured so I went to even check up on him and he was already dead. So they called the mortuary man while his people were here mourning. Immediately I saw a pick-up car and two gentlemen got down.
“One started addressing the journalist and one also entered the hospital. The family entered the hospital and started attacking the nurses while destroying items. It took the intervention of the reinforcement team to address the situation.”
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