By Mary Bassey
The Management of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) has terminated the appointment of their Locum Radiographer over negligence of duty.
CrossRiverwatch gathers that the said Radiographer whose name is withheld had inadvertently took the key for the Accident and Emergency x-ray room away. The colleague who took over also refusing to call him led to the death of a patient.
The Management in reaction to the misconduct terminated the appointment of the said Locum Radiographer and everyone involved are made to answer for the tragedy.
The sack letter obtained by CrossRiverWatch dated 22nd January, 2025 and signed by the Director of Administration and Secretary to Board of Management, Dr. (Mrs) Maria Maureen Bassey.
The letter reads in part, ” This is to inform you that your service in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital as a Locum Radiographer are no longer required.
“Consequently, your appointment is hereby terminated with immediate effect.
“By this, you are therefore requested to handover all the properties of the Hospital in your custody to the Head of Department of Radiology. Management wishes you the best in your future endeavors,” It states.
The Chief Medical Director of UCTH, Professor Ikpeme Ikpeme when reached by CrossRiverWatch explained below:
1. There are five functional x-ray machines in the hospital, including one in the A&E.
2.This wasn’t the case prior to 2019 and represents the massive investment Management has made in Radiology. As of today, an MRI is being installed.
3. There is constant light in the hospital.
4. The Radiographer on morning duty is said to have inadvertently taken the keys to the A&E x-ray room away.
5. The Locum Radiographer who took over from him refused to call him to bring the keys. She rather told them to wait until morning.
6. She could also have moved the patient upstairs to do the x-rays.
7. Management provided the tools to work with and power. In the past, they would have said no equipment and no power. One Locum staff decided to misbehave. Why would some individuals do so much damage to every effort that has been made to build the hospital?
8. The Locum appointment has been terminated and everyone involved is being made to answer for their roles.
Recall that Human Rights Lawyer, Barr. James Ibor had in the early hours of Wednesday 22nd January, 2025, lamented his sad experience.
“Crazy things are happening at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. We rushed a patient yesterday to the hospital and after the emergency team examined him, they invited the radiographer to examine his lungs. Up until now, they have been looking for the key to the Emergency X-ray room. 24 hours later, the patient is unconscious. There must be consequences.”