I read with interest a report in Arab News recently that the Saudi government wanting to make medical staff more accountable for their actions particularly in case of negligence. I believe they should also be focusing on a contributing factor toward negligence.

My father, a 75-year-old British national, suffered a stroke on Jan. 30 at Jeddah airport. He was admitted in the emergency room (ER) of the King Fahd Hospital.

I noticed the ER though designed to hold 10 patients based on the bed numbering scheme, had 28 patients crammed in along with one criminal chained to his bed and one mentally unstable patient who continued to shout through most of the night as well as spitting at people.

There are between 1-4 nursing staff assigned to look after these patients who based on their condition, require frequent and attentive care. Clearly with this ratio of staff to patients, proper medical care is not being provided. This is evident from patients left in heavily soiled beds for half the day, calling out for help with a response not received in time.

My father should have been moved from the ER to the general ward a day later; yet even after five days he remains stuck in ER. He is not getting the basic care that a stroke patient should like turning him over regularly to avoid bed sores. Neither was he administered any sort of fluid until the 4th day after I started kicking up a huge fuss especially as he is a diabetic. This appears to be negligence.

After having spoken to many staff over this week, it’s clear a bed is not being made available due to shortage, or whatever the reasons.

Despite may several attempts to see the hospital director, the ER director, or frankly any other concerned official to shift my father to an aftercare ward.

Nothing has yielded thus far asides from the usual non committal ‘InshAllah.’

My mother and I spend 24 hours with our father to provide him care whilst he is at the hospital.

The British Embassy has played a very supportive role by staying in touch and sent their representative to the hospital to try and help. In addition, the majority of nursing staff are playing a superb role and working long tiring shifts.

It’s clearly evident the hospital is short of staff, space and most likely funding. It’s this sort of recipe that leads to medical errors.

I urge upon the Saudi Ministry of Health to take care of this hospital, though my father continues to languish for want of proper care.

Aman Ali

Jeddah