Hospital did not neglect patient who had ants on his bed
A swarm of ants reportedly fed on newspaper vendor, Larry Williams, while he was hospitalized at the Northern Regional Hospital. A visitor to the hospital was shocked to see ants on Williams’ toes. Williams had been hospitalized since March for a broken hip but developed other complications and remained at the hospital until Wednesday. He became incapacitated and needed round the clock help so he relied solely on the nurses to care for him. According to the hospital visitor, she alerted a nurse on duty about the ants and was shocked again when the nurse blithely responded that they can’t do anything more for him and made no effort to attend to the patient. Acting Administrator, Dr. Jair Osorio, confirmed to News Five today via telephone that ants were on Williams’ bed but he does not agree that the hospital neglected the patient.
Via phone: Dr. Jair Osorio, Ag Administrator, Northern Regional Hospital
“Mr. Williams was not somebody who could not take care of himself. He was bedridden; he could not walk due to a fracture that he had received previously. Eventually he ate on the bed and we suspect that he had food particles there. It’s not negligence. It’s not negligence. It’s a situation that just needs to be controlled. We have done certain things; we have put insecticides, we have done things—cleaning was done three times a day in the hospital, Mr. Williams was bathed twice daily, his sheets were changed, his clothing was changed. Unfortunately, they were bringing certain types of food to the people there. Ants will find where food is and if it’s not properly disposed of then they will be there. These are old buildings that we can’t seal them completely; it is impossible to seal every crack to prevent ants from coming from the outside in. Again, I don’t have anything to say in regards to what the nurse said because we don’t have the person here telling us what exactly were the words of the nurse.”
Marion Ali
“Okay, you would need that person who was making the allegation to come forth to you and make an official complaint?”
Via Phone: Dr. Jair Osorio
“Well, that is the thing, that is how we investigate. We’re doing this because of the media and that’s because of the allegations that you brought out in the media. That’s why we’re doing this investigation. I’m saying that there was no negligence. Unfortunately, ants did get into Mr. Williams’ bed.”
Williams will be laid to rest with help from the PUP Orange Walk Central Executive.
Doc, I am not a nurse or medically incline. You acknowledged the fact that there’s ants infestation within the hospital. You and your staff also know that ants will find where ever food is if not properly disposed of, according to your statement. Doc, this is a medical facility and all these issues (problems) should have been addressed to your Ministry knowing that the building is old. It is obvious that you as Ag, Administrator failed and neglected to address this very important information to the Ministry of Health. You also failed to direct your Nurses to make sure that every patients are checked periodically during and after every meal, taking the Ants situation into consideration. Doc, you also said that the reason why you’re investigating the death of Larry Williams is because of allegations brought out by the media. You just fu–//// up Doc, because this is telling me and the entire country that if the concerned Citizen did not disclose the ants situation to the media, we would not know about the damn ants infestation at your hospital and Larry would have died less than a dog without an owner. Doc, negligence is negligence which you have proven to us. We got it from the horses mouth and thank you very much, you jacka-s.
Hmmm. I guess Dr. Osorio is saying they won’t investigate the worst behaviour without some sworn complaint. I personally think they have a high responsibility to investigate EVERY whisper of suspicion that some patient is not treated the best. Doesn’t the Hippocratic Oath of doctors apply in this hospital?
“Sometimes we must hang an admiral to set an example for the rest.” That should apply to anyone in charge of public services.
Dr. Osorio needs to understand that being defensive is not helping. The patient was either incapacitated or he was not. If he could not get out of bed to take care of his own personal hygiene, how the hell can you blame him for dropping food on his bed & inviting ants.
The biggest mistake made by the woman was destroying evidence before taking the photo, so it’s her words against those in charge of the hospital.
Every patient in the hospital eat in their bed or have food stored at their bedside, why is the victim case any different than the person in the other bed next to him.
I hope that the person making the allegation will make an official report, and that the nurse be dealt with as soon as possible.
Yeah right. I have never seen that hospital cleaned three or even two times a day and never, ever seen a patient bathe twice a day. If they even bathe you once, you are lucky. If you don’t have someone to stay with you at the hospital and look after your interest, you are doomed–just like Mr. Larry Williams. May he rest in peace.
I don’t want to get on this subject because it’s a very sensitive one. As far as Northern regional goes—there is ALWAYS negligence. The nurses seem to be there only to collect a pay check. I don’t even know why they are still called nurses. The only thing they nurse are the hospital chairs.
This Dr admitted that ants were found on this patient’s bed and still want to deny the fact that this wasn’t negligence furthermore he tried to justify his staff’s action by saying that the ants were in the patient’s bed as a result of food particles that fell in the bed after the patient ate.Those ants definately didn’t got there in five minutes.Those ant got there due to the time gap that those nurses take to do their rounds.Had they done regular checks they would have known that ants were on this patient’s bed.So tell me that’s not negligence Dr.You and you entire staff should be fired.
I will repeat the same point i made yesterday. The level of care demonstrated from the nurses to the administration is outrageous. It simple shows that they DON’T CARE and no of them are to blame EVER for the constant neglect they show towards the patients they should be taken care. Mr Osorio shows no care of sympthay but then again, this is not news to anyone. But the buck stops with the government of the day and both UDP and PUP just ignore the situation, you see when was the last time any political figure got attention at a “Public Hospitall”?
Seems to me they were tired of caring for Mr. Williams….Dr. Osorio esta tratando de tapar el sol con un dedo….he says its a situation that needs to be controlled….so if it was not controlled, then it was negligence.
How can Dr. Osario say that ants feasting on a hospitalized patient’s body is not plain and simple NEGLECT.
this is a everyday negligence in all gov. hospital, something need to be done to stop this case occuring.
“This is real shame for d NRH, and for dr..osorio to admit such a shame- is infact disrespectful, all a we who cannot aford to go to an expensive\private hospital go to the “northern regional hospital” and other hospitals {although sometimes its out of medical supplies} and we have fi buy””} -to at least expect to get some help! but its really sad that dis is not d first time that tings are out of control at the NRH, I’ve been several times there at d hospital , recently just about 3 weeks ago when my dad died their,and to be honest with uno at the “EMERGENCY’ dept of the hospital some of the nurses\DR. sometimes are very rude and disrespectful, I’ve noticed that d nurses \DOCTOR-S’…are just chating on the internet,or just gossiping” they don’t pay attention to the sick people as they are expected to, and one thing I’VE noticed are the inexperienced \murderers} CUBAN DOCTORS….I don’t know if they are really qualified or are just ‘”APREDIS”{starters} like some people say to handle our people at the NRH\ and other hospitals….some of them female CUBAN drs. at the NRH are ignorant and don’t have the patience to attend to someone at times{ they are just their to show off their hairdoos,nailpolish styles and other …..-, if they don’t have that patience the MOH must return them back to CUBA, where they belong,many of our beloved ones are dying at the hospitals with the “NEGLECT ” of the MOH nd the “INEXPERIENCED’ SOME OF THE CUBAN DOCTORS {APRENDIS}……2 weeks before my dad died at d NRH ,he was taken at the hospital several times ,and the day before he died he was taken again for chekup at about 7:30 pm and released at amout 11:30pm and I took him bak home,the next day I saw him having trouble breathing and I took him bag to the NRH, to see if he can get some help ! when I arrived at the hospital I told my brally to open d door {emergency} for me so I can get him in,so he did- when I gone in with my dad on hand” the CUBAN {female} DR. responded in spanish, ‘ah ese viejito otra ves” …. meaning that old man again” and while I had my dad on hand {holding him] she just whispered “ponlo ahi” and I was expecting someone to help me move the curtain from the bed area and “NO” one helped me I had to walk backwards and remove it with my back…’ make him lie on d bed and waited for a male doctor to chek him, so what can we expect from these people that we expect to give a good service to all a we,[I’ve seen it several times that they are just playing with the computer{ chating} at the hospital\ NRH ,when I went outside I spoke with a staff\ NRH – and explained him the attitude of the cuban DR. and he said, thats what she does to every one,some people when they go in {at emergency} and see her their they just walk out because the people already know her {bad attitude} ,and just wait for another DR.,…….’.I wonder if they are injecting someting to the {SICK} people that they are tired to see many times at the hospital\ NRH – thatz many people’s commentZ I’ved heard many times that their beloved ones just don’t make it at the NRH, “UNFURTUNATELY MY DAD DID NOT MAKE IT AT THAT {NRH} HOSPITAL,HE DIED, and I know many other people has passed through this also- and what difference will it make if we report it to administarion dept’ at the NRH ,nothing will change the nurses\DOCTORS,STAFF,are already in use with it,and they will hide it…..so while we wait another person will continue to be neglected\treated like an animal at the hospital and the MOH doesn’t do anything at all. thatz d sadest part of it because we d poor are d ones to pay for it.
thank you news5 that we can post our comentz now, so others can know what is really going on with our heath system all around Belize”.
ivan you have posted good comment that realtes the real situation that happens in most gov. hospital in our jewel. these cubans good for nothing are just in for practice and are not qualified with this attitude towards the patients. send thecubans back home we don’t need them here.
NOTE:The doctor did not admitted that ants were feasting on the man’s foot, he admited that ants were on the man’s bed/the entire hospital.
Therefore he is denying that the hospital did not neglect the man.
Ivan, I can only imagine how u feel everytime you have to go to that Hospital with your loved ones. Sadly that cubana gives a bad name to the others who work so hard in the other parts of the country. Theyre not all “hoggish” like that one at NRH. A little word of advice: The minster of health can be found right at the free zone on most weekends, drinkig his brains out, Plea your case to him and try to bring out his compassionate side. He has nothing to do as he doesnt even understand his port folio. but he knows the bucks stops with him, at the end of the day.