Neglect and Chaos Alleged at BMH Hospital

                            Front view of BMH
 

Neglect and Chaos Alleged at BMH Hospital

Serious allegations of negligence, poor patient care, and systemic inefficiencies have emerged from Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMH), raising fresh concerns about the state of public healthcare delivery in Rivers State.

The claims stem from a Facebook post by Florence Ure Ben Wandibia, who shared a deeply troubling account based on her experience at the facility while caring for her late younger relative. In her post, she described what she termed a “nonchalant attitude” among medical personnel, alleging that patients are often subjected to substandard treatment and prolonged delays in receiving care.

According to her account, access to doctors is limited, with patients frequently left in the care of auxiliary nurses and trainee doctors. She further alleged that families are required to procure nearly all medical supplies—including plaster and prescribed injections—from external sources, with minimal provision from the hospital.

Wandibia also raised concerns about poor supervision and coordination within the hospital. She recounted an incident where a prescribed injection was not administered after a doctor reportedly left midway during preparation to attend to a personal matter, without returning to complete the procedure.

The report highlights overcrowded ward rounds, where senior doctors are said to appear only once daily, accompanied by large groups of trainees. While acknowledging the importance of medical training, the situation was criticized for potentially increasing discomfort and anxiety among critically ill patients.

Environmental and hygiene issues were also emphasized. The absence of window nets, she claimed, exposes patients to mosquito bites even while undergoing malaria treatment. Additionally, she alleged poor handling of deceased patients, citing a situation where a corpse reportedly remained in the ward for hours, causing distress among other patients.

The concerns extended beyond BMH to University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), with a call for both institutions to undergo urgent reforms and improved management oversight.

While these allegations have not yet been independently verified by hospital authorities, they reflect growing dissatisfaction among members of the public regarding conditions in government-owned healthcare facilities. Stakeholders are increasingly calling for accountability and comprehensive reforms to ensure safer, more responsive, and humane healthcare delivery.