The Unedited PRESS RELEASE
The Management of Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja wishes to inform the Public that it has taken necessary and appropriate measures to ensure the safety of patients and staff of the facility following the unfortunate incidence of the past 24 hours during which some members of staff and security personnel on duty were assaulted by infuriated relatives of a now deceased patient.
The patient was referred unconscious from Reference Hospital Okene, a sister hospital where he was being managed for Haemorrhagic (CVA) Stroke. He could not be admitted immediately on arrival because the 20 bed capacity emergency ward was fully occupied and the accompanying relatives were advised to seek care in an alternative health facility but they declined and opted to wait for a bed space.
The emergency ward staff eventually admitted the patient within thirty minutes. Immediately, a bed space was made vacant and his care was continued but his condition deteriorated thereafter and following failed attempts at resuscitation, was certified dead.
The relatives, who on arrival were aggrieved by the loss which they wrongly claimed to be due to
negligence then began assaulting the emergency ward staff (Including Doctors, Nurses, Health
Attendants and Security Personnel) at their duty post, and many of whom fled to safety. The incidence subsequently spread to involve security personnel at the hospital gate, by the attacking relatives and their friends who were mobilized into the hospital premises via phone calls by the attackers. The hospital management committee mobilized additional security reinforcements, leading to restoration of order.
The Hospital Management while empathizing with the family of the deceased, condemn emphatically
the unfortunate incidence by the relatives who assaulted members of staff and security personnel
present.
The Hospital Management is currently reviewing the incidence in collaboration with the relevant
security agencies and assures the public that the hospital remains committed to sustaining our goal to deliver effective and efficient health care service to the society while ensuring the safety and security of staff and patients under our care.
