Full Press Statement of Kenya Nurses Union on KNH Brain Surgery Mix-up Saga
THE GENERAL SECRETARY PRESS STATEMENT ON KENYATTA NATIONAL HOSPITAL SURGERY MIX-UP.
1. The Union has learnt from social and mainstream media that the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board has released a report on the KNH surgery mix-up exonerating the doctors involved and placing the errors squarely on one of the nurses who was on duty.
2. We have not received the purported report from the Medical Board but as per the media reports we wish to state as follows;-
i. That we are surprised, dismayed and embarrassed by the action of the Director of Medical Services who doubles as the Registrar of the KMPDB and the Pharmacist and Poisons Board, to doctor a report by three regulatory bodies NCK, COC, and KMPDB.
ii. That Dr. Kioko should be investigated on why he doctored the report sneaked alone to the media and purported to blame the nurse.
iii. That Dr. Kioko should produce the actual report that was agreed upon by the three regulatory bodies, because what he released to media was a report he doctored in favour of his colleagues.
iv. That the mix-up at Kenyatta National Hospital is a systemic failure that must be logically addressed instead of apportioning blame on one nurse.
v. Issues of staff shortages, equipment, workers professional participation and representation, congestion, drugs, admissions, operations and discharge procedures should be addressed, wholistically.
vi. WHO has published Operating Team Marking Verification Checklist which must be put in focus when trying to respond to deep rooted systemic and administrative failures of KNH and the entire public Health System, in relation to this issue.
(Read the checklist attached).
3. Finally, we reiterate our position that the Kenya Medical Practitioners & Dentist Board has no professional, legal and constitutional mandate or authority to purport to be investigating nurses and passing verdicts. On the same strength the union challenges the Nursing Council of Kenya to state whether it can summon a doctor to appear before it and if not why are nurses appearing to KMPDB.
Thank you.
Signed By
SETH PANYAKO
KNUN GENERAL SECRETARY
