NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Minister of Health Renward Wells today said he has not received “direct complaints” concerning the treatment of expectant mothers at the Princess Margaret Hospital, and recent deaths at the facility.
Wells was asked about claims leveled by several families on social media over the weekend.
“The issues that we see on social media, obviously anyone who has a heart, as the prime minister would say, or any individual, your heart will go out to them,” he said.
“There’s that sense of compassion. As a father and as a husband who has lost children, just seeing the story brought back my own circumstances.”
Wells advised that the Public Hospitals Authority is currently looking into the matter.
“We have not received any direct complaints, written complaints but the ministry is looking into it,” he said.
However, Wells said the Bahamian people must keep in mind that given the current state of the healthcare sector as it grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, the medical community throughout the country, both public and private sector, is stretched.
“Hearing the kind of things that we are hearing in regards to the loss of life, it doesn’t sit well with them, it certainly doesn’t sit well with me and we’re going to do all we can to continue to preserve the life of the Bahamian people,” he said.
In a Facebook post, 35-year-old mother Kayla Edwards-Dean detailed her horrific labor experience at the hospital’s maternity ward.
She ultimately lost her twin boys, and further alleged inhumane treatment and discrimination due to COVID-19 stigma among healthcare workers.
The social media post saw an outpouring of support and responses from other women who shared personal stories of their own birth experiences at the facility.
Mother of seven Zennrine Ramdas, 36, reportedly died at Princess Margaret Hospital last week, days after giving birth to a baby girl.
According to her family members, Ramdas died from a womb infection on September 4 and also left behind a seven-year-old, a six-year-old, and a two-year-old.
This follows the death of a 20-year old COVID-19 positive woman, who recently died at PMH just six days after giving birth to a baby boy.
Outside the Cabinet Office today, Wells said he has not received any letter from any individual – other than a plea for assistance from a new mother whose infant needed emergency heart surgery.
“There was the opportunity made for this child to go to the United States to be able to have that life-saving surgery,” he said.
“I signed off on that letter as Minister of Health for the air ambulance to deliver that child. That child was delivered yesterday in Miami.
“That’s the only letter I have received in regard to health care and health issues.”
