Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital is investigating the circumstances around the death of Fatoumatta Dibba who died after being allegedly turned away by the hospital.
The Bakau mom reportedly had complications while giving birth to twins at a local clinic, prompting the clinic to refer her to the nation’s top hospital. Staff there allegedly turned her away – as she reportedly died in the ambulance outside the hospital.
A statement signed by the hospital public relations officer Kebba Sanneh said, amid heavy criticism directed at the hospital: “The reports circulating in the media of the regrettable and heartbreaking events leading to the untimely death of a young mother at our hospital have come to the attention of the Management of the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital. We would like to express our sincere condolences to the bereaved family.
“Any death that occurs in the hospital is reviewed as a routine and we take any allegations levelled against the hospital and its staff very seriously. In this case, we have deemed it necessary to launch an urgent and comprehensive investigation into this matter, to piece together the exact events that transpired at EFSTH on that fateful day, and any other relevant information surrounding the case, so as to take concrete steps to try and ensure that a similar event does not occur again.
“The general public should be reassured that in the interest of transparency, the outcomes of the investigation shall be communicated in due course. In the meantime, we would also like to reassure the general public and all referring institutions that we continue to operate as best as normal to continue to provide tertiary and referral services despite the current COVID pandemic situation in the country. We would also like to reassure the general public that there is no policy in our hospital to turn away any patient in need of our services.”
