Following allegations of mistreatment of patients who suffered minor heart attacks and strokes at the Valelevu Health Centre, Minister for Health Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu says they do not condone staff mistreating patients under any circumstances.
This comes after a woman took her 81-year-old grandmother, who had suffered a stroke, to the Valelevu Health Centre, where she claims her grandmother was not properly attended to because there was no bed available.
She says a doctor told them they could either stay at the hospital without a bed or take her grandmother home without being seen.
The woman says the doctor kept repeating that there were no beds available, not even at the CWM Hospital.
She says they remained at the Health Centre from 7pm to about 9.30pm while her grandmother sat in a wheelchair, she urinated on herself but still received no assistance.
The woman also says there was another patient outside who had suffered a minor heart attack and was lying on a bench, and no doctor had attended to him either.
She adds that she and her husband eventually decided to take her grandmother to the CWM Hospital, where she was properly attended to within two hours.
While responding to questions by fijivillage News, Dr Lalabalavu says an investigation will be initiated once the patient or relative makes a formal complaint to the Ministry as this is the process and has been highlighted before.
He stresses there is no shortage of beds but rather shortage of space.
The Minister says Valelevu Health Centre has 5 inpatient beds for now as the Ministry has to do some structural improvements in the facility.
He says his message to the public who seek medical service is that the Ministry does not condone mistreating patients and if they feel that they have been mistreated, they are more than welcome to make a formal complaint for an investigation to be done.
The woman is expected to file a complaint soon.
