I write this in to highlight an issue that has plagued Hospital Lahad Datu since it was built - but this time it nearly cost a baby's life. Numerous letters have been written to the authorities but nothing has yet been done.
Non-functioning maternal operating theatre - the maternal operating theatre (for mothers that need to be operated on to deliver the baby) has not been working since the hospital was built. Many excuses have been given by the administration for over more than 10 years.
Malfunctioning elevators - on Sept 12, the elevators of the hospital stopped working. At 6.14pm, a mother developed cord prolapse. This is a condition in which the umbilical cord is compressed by the baby and is life-threatening.
The mother was planned for an emergency Caesarean section but this was not possible as the elevators were not functioning (one has not been working for months).
The hospital's maintenance contractor was not able to send help to repair the lifts in time. The baby was born via forceps delivery and had to be intubated as it was not breathing.
Fortunately, the baby is alive today but this is a close call and a stern warning to all of us.
Despite obtaining ISO certification and undergoing audits, Hospital Lahad Datu has many other issues as well such as a malfunctioning building management system. This is a clear illustration of the redundancy of audits and certification - a waste of time and money.
There are many other issues that go unreported in the broken hospitals of Malaysia. Enough new-fangled systems, programmes and ideas.
Please fix the basic infrastructure of the hospitals before more patients suffer or die. - Mkini
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