Ang Thong hospital NICU buffet probed after infant death

The Public Health Ministry has ordered a fact-finding investigation into the conduct of a group of doctors and nurses at the Ang Thong provincial hospital after they held a buffet party in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), after which a newborn baby was found dead.

Parents of the five-day-old baby filed a complaint with The Pavena Hongsakul Foundation seeking justice and to arrange for the deceased baby to be taken to the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Police General Hospital for a forensic autopsy.

The case, which went viral on social media, has drawn widespread criticism of the Ang Thong hospital’s management, questioning the propriety of medical personnel holding a farewell lunch party inside the usually sterile NICU.

Public Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Somlerk Jeungsmarn said yesterday that he has received a report from the hospital’s director claiming that medical personnel assigned to the NICU usually eat in the same ward, but in an area separated from the NICU and that eating inside the NICU is improper.

He said that the probe will not take long and those found at fault will be dealt with in accordance with regulations, adding that, as part of the safety protocol, all medical personnel entering the clean room are required to wash their hands and wear gloves.

The caterer told Thai PBS reporters that his staff served food in the NICU, but did not wear any face masks, adding that he was ordered to serve food at the hospital and, upon arrival at the hospital, his staff were told to take the food to the NICU.

He claimed that they merely served food to the doctors and nurses and did not make table arrangements.

The parents of the deceased baby met with Dr. Thaveechoke Rojanaarumkul, the provincial medical chief, to demand an investigation into the conduct of the medical personnel.

According to the parents’ accounts, on July 17, the mother had a cesarean birth and her baby was admitted to the NICU after he developed abnormal breathing. The mother was discharged from the hospital on July 19.

She claimed that she was informed by a nurse that her baby’s condition had improved and she asked for a visit, but this was not allowed because there was a leaving party going on in the ward.

She also claimed that there is only a curtain separating the incubators from the area where the party was being held. She questioned whether it was appropriate for the medical personnel to hold a party in the NICU and demanded to see the footage form the CCTV system in the ward.

The hospital’s director, Dr. Pareechart Teerawat has expressed condolences to the couple and denied that there was any CCTV system covering the ward.

Meanwhile, Pol. Col. Parkpoompat Poonsiripokha, the deputy commander of Ang Thong police, said that medical personnel at the Ang Thong hospital will be summoned for questioning. He confirmed that there was no CCTV system in the hospital, only outside the hospital building.