NUH responds to FB post alleging that staff ignored pregnant woman who was in pain

'The National University Hospital (NUH) has responded to a viral Facebook post alleging that its staff ignored a pregnant woman for seven minutes while she was in distress.

Facebook user Preet Sandhu shared in a post on Sunday (Nov 4) about how she noticed the woman, who was seated on a wheelchair, crying in pain.

"I heard the lady’s husband telling the NUH staff that his wife was in great pain and ready for delivery," wrote Preet in her post, alleging that 'seven minutes were being wasted' instead.

A video posted by Preet showed the pregnant woman holding her belly in pain before she was eventually wheeled away by a female staff member.

https://www.facebook.com/preet.sandhu.359/videos/10161041694695223/

The video has garnered over 132,000 views and almost 2,600 shares to date.

In a Facebook post on Monday (Nov 5), NUH said it was aware of the video.

It said: "The post stated that our patient was unassisted for seven minutes outside the Emergency Medicine Department (EMD).

"The hospital views this matter seriously and we have looked into it.

"Based on our CCTV records, our patient was transferred to the delivery suite four minutes on arrival to our EMD on Sunday.

"She arrived at our EMD at 11.16am and took a seat outside the EMD while her husband approached the screening counter at the entrance.

"As part of the process, the screening staff had to obtain some information on the patient and her condition before he could call the delivery suite to arrange for admission.

"In the meantime, a porter wheeled her into the EMD at 11:18am. At 11.20am, the patient was transferred to the delivery suite."

https://www.facebook.com/NationalUniversityHospital/posts/10155601929247441

NUH also acknowledged that its staff "could have shown more empathy", adding that it has since reached out to the patient and her husband to apologise for their experience.

"We are happy to share that the patient delivered last evening and both mother and child are doing well," it said.