Jubilee probe still planned despite nurses' denials

Despite adamant claims by nurses at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital in Kingston that they did nothing wrong in handling the delivery of 23-year-old Tashamna Martin's baby, the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) is continuing an independent investigation into the matter.

The nurses were angered by a report in The Gleaner yesterday, which highlighted how Martin had fallen into a coma after suffering massive blood loss when she was reportedly left to deliver her baby on her own at the hospital.

Lyttleton 'Tanny' Shirley, chairman of SERHA, which has responsibility for the Victoria Jubilee Hospital, told The Gleaner he was now in the process of organising a team to visit the facility to conduct an independent investigation.

"The nurses are very disturbed about the article printed. They went on strike this morning. I'm going to have a proper investigation done so we can know exactly what transpired. I've heard the side of my nurses and doctors, now I need to have an independent body go down there to do a comprehensive investigation, and we're trying to have that done as quickly as possible," he said.

"When we speak, we want to speak factually. I take the complaint very seriously and I think it warrants a thorough investigation of our procedures and to ensure that we are doing the right thing. And if we are doing the wrong thing, then someone must be held accountable."

In the meantime, Martin's common-law husband, Ryan Perry, was still unable to take his daughter home. Perry said he was promised that he could take the baby yesterday following a visit by a social worker to his Vineyard Town, St Andrew, home on Tuesday evening.

However, yesterday he said was told to come back at visiting hours after 4:30 p.m.

When he returned at that time, he still did not get his daughter.

Chided by nurses

"Dem demonstrating and a cuss me say me wicked. Them say them trying to help her (Martin) and this is what them get. But mi nuh hold nuh argument with them still," he said. Perry had outlined the events in question to The Gleaner based on telephone calls he had received from Martin before she fell into the coma.

When he went to get his daughter from the nurses, he was told they were in a meeting so he would have to return today.

He said Martin was out of the coma and responsive, as her haemoglobin level continued to rise. However, because of a tube in her mouth, she was unable to speak.

anastasia.cunningham@gleanerjm.com