Hospital negligent, Liow says sorry

Star: PENANG: The Health Ministry has apologised to the family of a rubber tapper in Pahang after a post-mortem report confirmed that his death was due to negligence.
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said yesterday that disciplinary action would be taken against the negligent Bentong Hospital staff member who caused 31-year-old Ng Hong Chuan’s death recently.
“On behalf of the Health Ministry, I want to apologise to the family of the victim. We will hold a meeting soon to discuss ex-gratia payment for the family, said Liow, who is also the Bentong MP.
Hospital staff allegedly refused treatment to the heart attack patient, resulting in his death.
Earlier, the minister officially handed over the site of the Penang Hospital Phase One project to developer Lejadi Infra Sdn Bhd.
He said Penang Hospital patients could expect better care when upgrading works are completed by February next year.
“Under Phase One, the general intensive care (GICU), high dependency (HDU) and nuclear medicine units will be upgraded and a second invasive cardiovascular laboratory and 540-bay multi-storey car park built.
“The upcoming radioactive iodine ward to treat thyroid cancer and other nuclear medicine therapeutic services will be the first in the northern region, so patients here need not be referred to Hospital Kuala Lumpur any more,” he said.