A Mother’ Agony: Lagos hospital’s bureaucratic nightmare puts mother’s life at risk

……family seeks Govt swift intervention

April 11, 2025

By Adedoja Adesoji

A distraught daughter has reached out to the Lagos State Governor and the Ministry of Health Commissioner, pleading for intervention to save her mother’s life.

The mother, who underwent surgery at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) last year, is now fighting for her life due to alleged inefficiency and negligence by the hospital’s staff.

The daughter recounted that her mother’s troubles began after her initial surgery, when she was advised to wait for further treatment due to the Muslim specialists’ observance of Ramadan and subsequent festive mood.

Despite her mother’s critical condition, the hospital’s consultants allegedly delayed her treatment, citing various reasons.

When the mother arrived at LASUTH for her scheduled admission, she was met with a series of setbacks.

The hospital claimed to have misplaced her folder, prompting the daughter to suspect foul play. “I suspect it’s just bogus,” she said. “Because I know they have a filing system that works, ‘for them’.”

The consultants suggested opening a temporary folder to facilitate the mother’s admission and surgery.

However, the hospital’s administration refused, insisting that the mother undergo repeat tests before being given a new date for surgery. “This woman is fighting for her life,” the daughter said. “She’s in agony because of a surgery at Ayinke house, @LASUTHikeja.”

The daughter highlighted a previous incident in 2014, when her mother underwent surgery at LASUTH and the hospital staff allegedly left a needle and thread inside her. “They had to reopen her,” she said. “I pride myself in my ability to live without showing emotions, but I don’t want my mum to die.”

The daughter appealed to the Lagos State Governor and the Ministry of Health Commissioner, seeking their intervention to address the hospital’s alleged inefficiency and negligence. “Please, help me, help my mother,” she said. “I don’t want my mum to die because of the inefficiency of LASUTH.”

This incident shows the need for improved efficiency and accountability in Lagos State’s healthcare system.