A day after a baby girl was stolen from the maternity ward of the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital (KMCH), the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) has decided to seek an explanation from the hospital authorities over the incident.
Officials of the DME, under whose control 19 State-run medical college hospitals, including the KMC are, said that they would demand an explanation from the KMC dean, based on which further action would be decided. “They (KMC authorities) will have to conduct an inquiry and submit a report. Based on the report, we will take action,” said Dr S Geethalakshmi, the Director of Medical Education.
On Saturday afternoon, a salwar-clad woman, claiming to be a friend of Saritha who delivered a girl by ‘C’ section, stole the baby.
Meanwhile, at the hospital, relatives of patients at the labour ward said they were not being allowed into the ward since Saturday afternoon. “I brought my daughter on Friday. Only one person with a pass is allowed inside to bring the patient out for lunch. Ever since the incident happened, we are not allowed inside and have to wait for the patient to come out. Even for those patients who have undergone C-section and need assistance, the relatives are not allowed. The nurses say they will take care of the patients themselves,” said Selvi, a resident of Kotturpuram, whose daughter was admitted to the labour ward.
Even as the police conducted an inquiry at the ward on Sunday morning, worried relatives of the patients expressed fear over the safety of their loved ones and the newborns in the ward.
“The elderly lady who was with the woman had just opened her food parcel when nurses came rushing and said the baby was missing. There is another way to enter the ward from the rear of the building. But none of us knew how she managed to escape with the baby,” said a man, who has admitted his wife at the ward.
Hospital authorities confirmed that they had tightened the usual procedure of letting in only one person with a pass. “It has always been strict at the labour ward and there were even days when the relatives manhandled the security at the entrance. All patients in the ward are given hospital diet. But some who want to eat more ask for their relatives to bring extra food. Even such persons are not allowed inside the ward anymore,” said a hospital source.