A recently appointed nurse at a hospital in Tabuk mistakenly switched two babies when handing them to their parents.
Audeh Al-Atwi, media spokesman of the health department in the province, said workers in the children’s ward often show carelessness when handing newborn babies to the parents.
“The ministry provides clear-cut instructions in this regard, including handing the newborn within a specified timeframe and labeling the baby with a bracelet that contains information about his or her mother,” said Al-Atwi.
Al-Atwi said that such mistakes are quite rare in the Kingdom.
“The new nurse has been working for only a month now. Any new nurse should undergo a training course on regulations and procedures for a whole year.”
Abdulsalam Al-Blui, the father of the newborn girl who was switched, praised the efforts of security officers in returning his baby.
“I did not receive any apology or even a phone call from health officials,” he said.
“When my wife was discharged from the hospital, I went to the children’s ward to get my baby, where I was informed that she must stay for more tests. I could not admit my wife again according to the regulations, so we went home leaving the baby at the hospital.
When I returned to take the baby, I was told that she was mistakenly given to another family and the hospital authorities did not have their correct address. Thanks God! with the help of security officials, I was able to find my child.”
Health Ministry blames nurse for Tabuk baby mix-up
