LAHORE: A woman gave birth to a baby boy in the underpass connecting two portions of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on Friday.

Initial inquiries revealed that Bushra, a resident of Badami Bagh, had been going to Kot Khawaja Saeed Hospital for treatment, according to the neo-natal card attached to her medical record. She was taken to Lady Willingdon Hospital on Thursday after she complained of labour pains. However, doctors there allegedly refused to admit her despite repeated requests and referred her to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

She was admitted to the gynaecology ward where doctors examined her twice on Friday. Since she was not complaining of any pains, the attendants decided to take her to the hospital canteen across the road through the underpass where Bushra started experiencing labour pains and eventually delivered the baby there.

Riaz, Bushra’s husband, said the hospital staff reached the spot immediately after getting information and shifted both his wife and their newborn to the labour room and then to the ward.

The hospital administration suspended from service its Emergency Director Dr Abdul Ghaffar.

Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Minister Khwaja Salman Rafique told the media that he had spoken to Riaz and his mother and they had no complaint about the hospital staff.

The minister said a committee had been constituted to probe the matter and submit a report within 48 hours.

Services Institute of Medical Sciences Principal Prof Mahmood Ayaz would be convener of the committee comprising Lady Willingdon Hospital Professor of Gynaecology Dr Arshad Chohan and Lady Aitchison Hospital Professor of Gynaecology Dr Farhat Naz.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2017