Investigation launched into Aflao hospital as nurses refused mobile money payment, resulting in patient’s death

The Central Aflao Hospital in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region is currently under investigation by the Medical and Dental Council following an incident where two nurses allegedly refused to treat a critically ill patient unless they received a cash deposit, resulting in the patient’s death.

The family of the deceased, Linda Adua, 39, filed a petition with the president, the Minister of Health, the Ghana Health Service, and the Medical and Dental Council, leading to the release of the two nurses for investigation purposes.

Dr. Senanu Djokoto, the Volta Regional Health Director, confirmed the incident and stated that internal investigations have commenced, with the findings expected to be available in a few days.

Background

According to Linda’s family, despite multiple pleas from the patient and her 19-year-old son, the nurses refused to accept mobile money payment for her treatment, resulting in the patient being left unattended until her unfortunate passing.

In response to the petition, the Medical and Dental Council and the Ghana Health Service promptly dispatched a team of investigators to the hospital to look into the matter.

Dr. Gabrielle Kojo, the Medical Director of the Aflao Central Hospital, also known as Nkansah Hospital, confirmed that a team from the Ghana Health Service was present at the hospital to conduct an investigation.

He stated, “The police have requested us to release the nurses involved for questioning, which we have done.”

Dr. Makafui Dagbasu, the Medical Director of the Ketu South Municipal Hospital, the primary referral center for the municipality, also confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway.

Abigail Adua, an elder sister of the deceased, recounted that when Linda appeared to have died, the hospital directed her son to transfer her to a government facility where she was later pronounced dead upon arrival.

Linda, who operated a restaurant and lived with her only son in Aflao, is yet to be buried.

Abigail expressed her concerns, stating, “While we appreciate the work and dedication of health professionals, we believe that there are individuals within hospitals and clinics who tarnish the image of the medical and nursing professions through their actions or inaction, and they need to be held accountable to restore confidence in the system.”

She added that Linda’s son, Jerry Nii Tetteh, who had recently gained admission to pursue a degree program at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), is now left alone and traumatized after losing his reliable source of support and companion.

Abigail recounted that on April 11 of this year, Linda asked her son to accompany her to the hospital as she was feeling unwell.

They arrived at the hospital around 4:05 a.m. and were met by two nurses on duty who demanded a deposit of GH¢400 before attending to Linda, as narrated by Abigail.

Despite offering to pay through mobile money transfer, the nurses claimed it was against hospital policy and insisted that Tetteh leave the hospital premises to find a mobile money merchant to withdraw cash for payment.

“My sister pleaded with the nurses to accept the mobile money and provide treatment because it was too early in the morning to find a merchant to withdraw cash, but they refused,” Abigail explained.

She further revealed that Linda’s son had to walk from the hospital to Avoeme Junction to find a motorbike that would take him to the Aflao Border, approximately two kilometers away, in search of a mobile money merchant.

Throughout this ordeal, Linda remained seated in a wheelchair in the outpatient department (OPD) without receiving any attention from the nurses. No complaint details were recorded, and her vital signs were not measured, except for her name being entered in the patient register at the OPD, according to Abigail.

Abigail mentioned that Linda’s son was unable to find a merchant to facilitate the cash withdrawal. Meanwhile, Linda complained about difficulty breathing and requested oxygen from the nurses.

“One of the nurses responded by saying that Linda was disturbing them as she checked her phone,” Abigail recounted.

While Linda was being wheeled to a ward, she asked her son to assist her to the washroom but collapsed along the way.

“At that point, another patient in the ward witnessed the incident and hurriedly informed the nurses,” Abigail said.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, one of the nurses advised Linda’s son to hire a taxi and take her to the Ketu South Municipal Hospital, as they believed her condition exceeded their capacity.

Feeling confused and helpless, Linda’s son hurriedly arranged for a taxi while his mother remained motionless. By the time he returned to the hospital with the taxi, hospital staff had placed Linda on a stretcher and wheeled her from the ward to the hospital entrance.

The nurses instructed Linda’s son to sit in the taxi while they placed his mother’s lifeless body inside, with her head resting on his lap, and directed him to take her to the Ketu South Municipal Hospital without a referral note or accompanying personnel.

Abigail explained, “Upon arriving at the Ketu South Municipal Hospital, Linda was pronounced dead by medical staff, who stated that she had likely passed away several minutes before being brought to their facility at approximately 7:40 a.m.”

Following the incident, Linda’s family reached out to the management of the Central Aflao Hospital to relay the account narrated by Linda’s son.

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh