Mykolaiv RMA sets up commission to check actions of medical staff in regional hospital after violations found

An infant who was later found to have swelling on his arms after being strapped into a wheelchair. Photo: Office of the Ombudsman

The Health Department of Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration said it had set up a special commission to check the actions of the staff of the reorganised Centre for Medical Rehabilitation and Palliative Care following the publication of the Ombudsman's Office's report on child rights violations.

According to the Health Department of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration on Facebook, the commission will examine the situation, assess the compliance of the medical staff's actions with current standards and conduct a thorough analysis of the facts set out in the monitoring group's report. Based on the results, they promise to «make appropriate decisions», and in case of violations, take disciplinary measures.

It should be noted that NikVesti tried to get a comment on the future work of the commission from the head of the department, Iryna Tkachenko, but we were unable to contact her.

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In the post, the department commented that since the beginning of the year, 124 children have undergone rehabilitation in the institution, of whom 7 are in the Centre on full state support. These children are assured that they are provided with all comprehensive assistance in accordance with their individual needs.

«Ensuring quality rehabilitation for children, especially those with special needs and who are fully state-supported, is one of the priorities of the institution. The Centre's specialists provide comprehensive care aimed at improving the health, socialisation and development of each child in accordance with their individual needs,» the regional health department said.

The department called the reports that the children were tied to chairs a necessity to protect them during meals.

«Fixing children with developmental disabilities and birth defects during feeding was used exclusively for medical reasons to ensure their safety, prevent aspiration (food entering the respiratory tract) and ensure effective feeding. There are clear recommendations from level 4 specialists for such medical manipulations with these children, which were followed. Such methods are used in cases where other feeding methods are dangerous or impossible, taking into account the health status of children and their special needs,» they added.

This is how children are seated in front of the TV and secured with belts. Photo: Inna Miroshnychenko

And this picture shows the marks on a baby after such strapping. Photo: Inna Miroshnychenko

In addition, the department says they have to check the institution's budget, which, as previously reported on social media, is 23 million. However, they reminded that this year the Children's Home received a subvention of 6.2 million hryvnias.

Scandal in the reorganised baby home in Mykolaiv

It should be noted that in April 2024, the Centre for Medical Rehabilitation and Palliative Care was merged with the Mykolaiv Regional Children's Hospital. At the time, this decision was explained by the need to «protect» the institution from lack of funding.

We would also like to remind you that this is not the first scandalous case involving the Mykolaiv Oblast Children's Hospital. Back in July 2023, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the hospital was in poor condition during his visit to Mykolaiv.

In one of the wards, Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the room was not adapted for a comfortable stay. In particular, the ward lacked curtain rods, curtains, and air conditioning.