Patient was Declared Well and Discharged – Winneba Trauma Hospital

In light of the recent controversy surrounding an abandoned patient found in a bush near Gomoa Ojobi, Dr. Prah George Kwame, Medical Director of the Trauma and Specialist Hospital in Winneba, has clarified that the patient was declared healthy and discharged to her preferred destination.

The hospital’s statement comes amidst public condemnation and an investigation initiated by the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

The incident, which gained significant media attention, involved allegations that hospital officials abandoned the patient in a remote area due to the inability to identify her relatives. This sparked widespread outrage and led the GHS to form a five-member committee to investigate the matter.

According to the hospital’s statement, the patient had received treatment and was deemed fit for discharge. The hospital asserts that the patient requested to be taken to a specific location, which they honored.

“After the necessary examinations, Plaster of Paris (POP) was applied to both lower limbs of the patient due to tibia fractures. The hospital took full responsibility for the patient’s feeding, medication, and housekeeping.

“The patient had been on admission for six days and was finally discharged on June 3, 2024, after being declared well. The medical record has been provided as evidence,” the statement highlighted.

Dr. Kwame explained that discussions between the social welfare officer and the patient revealed she was a resident of the Gomoa Ojobi community. This information was corroborated by the National Ambulance Service, which confirmed the location of her initial pick-up.

He added that social welfare officers decided to return her to her community in Gomoa Ojobi. The arrangement involved the national ambulance, the social welfare officer, and a hospital staff member transporting the patient to her chosen destination.

“After the patient was declared well by the clinician and expressed a strong desire to leave the hospital, the social welfare officers agreed to send her back to Gomoa Ojobi,” Dr. Kwame explained.

He further noted that the hospital ambulance, accompanied by the social welfare officer and a hospital staff member, transported the patient to her preferred destination, ensuring she was properly clothed and provided with a wheelchair for the journey.