St. John's 28°C Overcast

Antigua News
Live
Antigua and Barbuda

SLBMC Apologizes After Sick Child Turned Away from Emergency Department

By

Published
Mother Leaves SLBMC With Injured Son After Being Told Doctor Wouldn’t See Patient
SLBMC Apologizes After Sick Child Turned Away from Emergency Department

The Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC) has issued an apology following reports that a mother and her injured son were turned away from the hospital’s Emergency Department earlier this week.

In a statement, the hospital said no patient or family should feel dismissed or uncertain about the seriousness of their condition. The management admitted that steps should have been taken to assess and communicate with patients that night properly.

The hospital also acknowledged challenges with staffing in the Emergency Department, noting that while its triage system is designed to prioritize urgent cases, communication with patients and families must always remain a priority.

SLBMC said it is reviewing the matter internally and working to strengthen systems and staffing to reduce the likelihood of similar incidents in the future.

A mother says she was forced to leave the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC) on Monday night with her injured son after being told no doctor would be seeing patients unless their condition was considered a “dire emergency.”

The woman explained that she had been waiting at the hospital for hours after her son suffered a head injury that caused blood to pool in his eye. But shortly before 11 p.m., she said, a nurse announced that the lone doctor coming on shift would not be attending to most cases.

“Everyone was told to come back at 11 a.m. the next day,” the mother recalled. “I asked if my son’s injury was an emergency and showed them his eye. The nurse just shrugged her shoulders and walked off.”

This story was first published by Antigua News on September 2, 2025: antigua.news/2025/09/02/slbmc-apologizes-after-sick-child-turned-away-from-emergency-department. © 2025 Antigua News. Republication without permission is not allowed.

Step 1

Add Antigua.news to your Home Screen

✕ antigua.news ⋯ Open in Safari Copy link Share…

First, open this page in Safari

You are reading inside another app (Instagram, Facebook…). Tap ⋯ at the top right and choose Open in Safari (or Open in browser).

No such option? Copy the link, open Safari and paste it in the address bar.

⚙️ Settings General › Software Update

Update your iPhone first

Alerts need iOS 16.4 or newer. Open Settings → General → Software Update and install the update. You can still add the icon now: tap Next.

‹ antigua.news ⋯

Tap the ⋯ button

It is at the bottom right of Safari, next to the address bar. Don't see the bar? Scroll up a little.

Share Add Bookmark New Tab Find on Page

Tap Share

It is the first option of the menu, with a square-and-arrow icon.

antigua.news ‹ › ▢ ⧉

Tap the Share button

The square with an arrow pointing up, in the middle of the bar at the bottom (on iPad: at the top right).

antigua.news

Tap the Share button

The square with an arrow, at the right of the address bar at the top. (Firefox: tap ☰ at the bottom, then Share.)

Copy Add to Reading List Add to Home Screen

Tap Add to Home Screen

Scroll down the list to find it (icon: a square with a +). Not there? Tap Edit Actions or View More at the bottom.

Cancel Add to Home Screen Add Antigua.news Open as Web App

Keep Open as Web App on, then tap Add

The switch must be green — without it, alerts can't work. Then tap Add at the top right.

Cancel Add to Home Screen Add Antigua.news An icon will be added to your Home Screen so you can quickly access this website.

Tap Add

At the top right. If you see an Open as Web App switch, leave it on (green).

Antigua.news

Close the browser and open Antigua.news from its new icon

Go to your Home Screen: the Antigua.news icon is there now (swipe left if you don't see it). Alerts only work when you open us from this icon.

“Antigua.news” Would Like to Send You Notifications Notifications may include alerts, sounds and icon badges. Don’t Allow Allow

Tap 🔔 Turn on alerts, then Allow

In the app you will see a red box asking to turn on alerts: choose your sections, tap the button, then tap Allow. That's it — breaking news will reach you even with the phone locked.
Editorial Staff

About the author

The Editorial Staff refers to all reporters employed by Antigua.news. When an article is not an original creation of Antigua.news—such as when it is based on a press release, other media articles, letters to the editor, or court decisions—one of our staff members is responsible for overseeing its publication.

Read our editorial standards and corrections policy. Spotted an error? Contact the newsroom.

Comments (14)

  • Tired of the poor treatment us citizens of the country endure daily. September 2, 2025, 1:32 PM

    So SLBMC apologize, then what?
    Reply

    • Anonymous September 2, 2025, 2:02 PM

      So tell me what do you want the hospital to do?
      We’re you expecting them to fire the staffing that was work that night would that allows patients to be seen? What already happened cannot be reversed.
      I have seen patient in their sound mind throw things at patient medical team and family member alike then walk off the hospital and go home and I don’t hear the public making an alarm over that……..
      Reply

    • Lucinda September 2, 2025, 3:47 PM

      You are right to put your name anonymous, I bet you work at the hospital ppl like you need to be fired we are talking about a children’s life and you are talking about workers feeling, they really need to send you all to customer service class and training before you get a position a place like hospitals to teach you urgency, Treats and respects patient
      Shows empathy
      Listens to the patient carefully, and do your job well, get out of here narcissist.
      Reply

    • Anonymous September 2, 2025, 4:17 PM

      I’m with you. Must be a reason why their anonymous and it all goes to show why this crap show continues in Antigua when persons aren’t held accountable. Whoever it is, is asking what the hospital is to do but what about what the victim is to do? They gotta be happy this is Antigua because if it was the US that mother would take in a few dollars for sure. We must except and demand better.
      Reply

    • Annoyed September 2, 2025, 4:19 PM

      The point is that shouldn’t have happened in the first place. Why do ppl always think that an apology can fix something that has already happened? What if his injuries were worst than what the eye can see?
      Reply

    • JUST THINKING September 3, 2025, 9:53 AM

      No one is asking them to jump over the moon. Assess the situation and do the right thing
      Reply

  • NotEnough September 2, 2025, 3:40 PM

    So this press statemnet is not even addressing the concern of the woman. We need to know what happened why the doctor had to say he or she is not working. Poor excuses SLBMC
    Reply

  • WreckingBall September 2, 2025, 4:05 PM

    Some of these nurses really disgraceful, man. You go hospital in pain and instead of a little compassion, you get attitude and eye-roll. People already scared and vulnerable, and then you haffi beg just for basic care. That nah right
    Reply

  • Teacher for Life September 2, 2025, 4:12 PM

    So let’s see if I got this right. Child has a HEAD injury causing blood to pool in his eye but the doctor only seeing seriously injured patients? THE FK?! I don’t have to be in the medical profession to know that this is a SERIOUS EMERGENCY!!!!! These so called medical professionals need compassion and serious heart transplants because their hearts are black( some of themym have none at all). Some a dem fit to sweep the fking streets their attitudes are so bad. That they would have this mother filled with anguish about her injured child waiting for hours and then turn her away is BS and somebody’s SSA needs to be terminated. And as far as that doctor specifically…sir/ma’am you forget the oath that you took says first do no harm? You aught to be ashamed of your daggone self. THE FK!!!!
    Reply

  • CKH September 2, 2025, 6:10 PM

    It’s like certain nurses forget say this is a calling, not just a paycheck. The way some of them talk down to patients and treat families cold… it cut deep. We deserve respect and dignity when we go for help
    Reply

  • Genique September 2, 2025, 6:22 PM

    Yeah yeah yeah. It will still happen again. There’s no end to it
    Reply

  • Brenda September 2, 2025, 6:27 PM

    Staff shortage or not, at least check the child! That could’ve been life-threatening.
    Reply

  • Jack September 2, 2025, 6:37 PM

    Honestly, the behaviour of some nurses turning people off from even going to the hospital. Rough treatment, no explanation, and sometimes outright rudeness. It making the whole health system look bad, even though we know not every nurse like that
    Reply

  • Informed citizen September 2, 2025, 10:21 PM

    Apologies are not enough there needs to be accountability and immediate action to prevent this from happening again.
    Reply

Submit a comment

More from Antigua and Barbuda

View section

By clicking "Accept", you consent to our website's use of cookies to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits.

Cookie Settings

Privacy Summary

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best possible user experience. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our site or helping our team understand which parts of the site you find most interesting and useful.

More information in Privacy Policy