‘Staff ignored guidelines’
PUTRAJAYA: Failure to comply with patient discharge guidelines set by the Health Ministry had enabled a5-day-old baby to be kidnapped from Tanah Merah Hospital in Kelantan.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah yesterday said investigations by the state’s Health Department and the hospital showed that the hospital staff did not adhere to the ministry’s guidelines on discharging the infant.
“It was learnt that the staff and hospital security failed to identify and confirm identities of the parents of the baby who was being discharged.
“Their procedure was not in line with the Health Director-General Bill 1/2007: Guidelines on Infant Safety Control System in Hospitals under the Health Ministry,” he said, adding that the bill was used as a guideline to ensure the safety of babies, including ensuring there were no cases of lost babies or baby switching at government hospitals.
On Tuesday night, a baby girl was kidnapped from the hospital’s children’s ward, a Malay daily reported. In the 7pm incident, a man had allegedly discharged the baby and took her out of the hospital.
At 10pm the same night, police had tracked down the baby and found her in the possession of a couple in their twenties in Selising, Pasir Puteh.
The couple has been remanded for four days.
Dr Noor Hisham said the hospital should have made sure that both mother and baby had their information, such as mother’s name, date of birth and the sex of the baby, on a piece of paper bracelet or other suitable devices.
“This identification must be verified in any matter regarding a baby, including leaving the labour room or wards.”
He said the ministry viewed this incident seriously and it should not have occurred at any government or private hospital.
Therefore, the ministry has issued instructions on immediate improvement directives to Tanah Merah Hospital to avoid such incidents from recurring.
“Among the suggested improvements were to use a special waiting card for mothers who come to breastfeed their babies and the mother’s identification card must be used to discharge a baby from the hospital along with the marriage registration certificate.”
Dr Noor Hisham said the ministry had suggested to isolate the specialised care nursery from the paediatric ward to enable tighter security.
“Babies’ discharge records must be made in two copies, one for the nurse and another to be signed and given to security guards when exiting the hospital.”
He said the Health Director-General Bill was reviewed and instructions had been issued to all state Health Departments to strictly adhere to the guidelines.
“The ministry will not hesitate to take action against those who ignore the guidelines.”
He said the ministry regretted the incident and reminded all hospitals to be extra careful.
“Hospitals should study their working paper processes and staff practices to ensure tighter security.”