THE management of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital has issued a warning to relatives of patients brought in for medical care against attacking hospital staff.
It stated that it would start arresting and prosecuting the relatives of such patients who put the safety of its employees at jeopardy.
The warning was contained in a statement from the management of UITH that was signed by Head, Corporate Affairs Unit, Elizabeth Ajiboye.
The statement, which was made available to newsmen today, came in the wake of allegations that in the hospital’s Accident and Emergency department, three of the relatives of the patient Alhaji Soliu, beat up a doctor on Tuesday.
According to the hospital, the patient was admitted to the hospital early on Tuesday morning for treatment, but eventually passed away there.
The relatives were allegedly furious with the medical professionals for what they perceived as their careless attitude, which they claimed resulted in the passing away of the patient.
However, UITH in its statement said, “We wish to remind members of the public on the roles of health workers in the health management system and the limitations of these health care providers in saving lives especially when the cases before them are presenting late.
“An extant case was that of a male patient admitted into the Accident and Emergency wing of the UITH on December 27, 2022.
“The patient in question was one of such cases presenting to the hospital late and with severe complications. Nevertheless, the health workers on duty, especially doctors swung into action but while battling for his life, he convulsed. He was stabilized from that stage, prompting the doctors to take over another case requiring emergency attention.”
“Three of the patient’s relations pounced on one of the doctors on duty, pinned him to the wall, and punched him severally but he managed to escape from them.
“It has now become imperative for the hospital to caution patients and their relations against any form of attack on its health care providers.
“Just as these workers had sworn to protect the lives of their patients, their own lives should not be endangered.
“Therefore, the management through the law enforcement agents has resolved to henceforth commence the arrest and prosecution of anyone irrespective of their status, threatening the lives of any of the workers of UITH in the course of their duties. Legal action will also henceforth be taken against such unruly relatives of our patients,” the hospital management said.
It, however, said, “We are at the same time, pledging our unalloyed commitment to continually save lives and make health care accessible to our law-abiding clients”.
