Kuching: A second maternity-related incident at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) in recent weeks has reignited public concern, with mounting questions over whether the facility is struggling with staff shortages, administrative inefficiency, or negligence.
The latest case involved a woman in labour whose amniotic fluid had ruptured but was allegedly told to wait for treatment, nearly resulting in tragedy.
DAPSY Stampin Chief Soo Tien Ren said the hospital must not dismiss the matter, and without urgent review and reform, such cases may continue to occur.
“We are grateful to the doctor who intervened in time to save both mother and child. However, the hospital must provide a clear explanation and face the issue directly.
“If negligence is involved, those responsible must be held accountable. Only then can justice be served to the family, and fairness ensured for doctors who take their duties seriously,” Soo stressed.
Explained the situation, Soo said that he received a complaint from a mother on 22 September 2025, claiming her daughter, who was in labour at SGH with ruptured amniotic fluid, was told to wait until the next morning for delivery.
“According to the complainant, after the daughter’s water broke, medical staff instructed them to wait, assuring that if the baby showed any complications, action would be taken immediately.
“However, by the following morning, the attending doctor had still not appeared, and despite repeated inquiries by the family, the same response was given – “you must wait,” he said.
Soo further explained, by evening, the pregnant woman’s condition deteriorated drastically, nearly slipping into unconsciousness.
“In desperation, the mother contacted me and I promptly reached out to the hospital. Eventually, a doctor arrived to attend to the patient,” he said.
He said, shockingly, examination revealed that the baby’s head had already emerged, and the heartbeat was unstable.
“Fortunately, after emergency intervention, the mother, who had to be rushed into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), was saved. Both mother and child survived, narrowly avoiding tragedy.
“Why was there such a delay in treatment even after the mother’s water had broken? If not for timely intervention, the consequences could have been catastrophic,” Soo questioned.
The incident comes just days after another case at the hospital where a newborn died shortly after delivery, further intensifying calls for accountability and reform.
