Glenroy Sinclair, Staff ReporterMYSTERY SURROUNDS the death of Claudia Millford, a 33-year-old blind patient who fell from the third floor of the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) early Monday morning and broke her neck.
Her relatives are accusing staff members of negligence, but administrators at the hospital said they are carefully looking into the matter before making any comment about the incident.
MATTER UNDER REVIEW
"I just visited the ward where the incident took place. Right now, we are reviewing the matter before making a statement," said the hospital's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Donald Farquharson.
Norris Miller, the older brother of Miss Millford, is of the view that his visually impaired sister awoke and was trying to either find the bathroom or elsewhere when she missed her way and fell to her death.
"This is a public hospital where nurses are on duty right around the clock. Somebody must have noticed this blind patient moving around on the ward. They will have to answer some questions," said Mr. Miller, who is in the process of seeking legal advice.
DISCOVERED MISSING
According to Mr. Miller, the hospital's response to his sister's death was that she was discovered missing from the ward about 6:00 a.m. It is alleged that the incident occurred long before that time.
A report from the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) suggested that Ms. Millfor wandered from her bed and subsequently fell from the third floor. She is also reportedly mentally challenged.
Ms. Millford, a mother of three, was a resident of Tivoli Gardens in west Kingston and has been a patient on Ward 3B for the past month. She was transferred from the Bellevue Hospital to KPH about a month ago.
