The Ilorin University Teaching Hospital Directorate has warned the relatives of the patients brought to the hospital for medical care not to attack the hospital workers.

He said that from now on he will arrest and take legal action against the relatives of said patients who are involved in endangering his workers.

The warning was contained in a statement signed by Ms. Elizabeth Ajiboye, Head of the Corporate Affairs Unit on behalf of the UITH Directorate.

The statement made available to the Punch correspondent on Thursday followed the alleged beating of a doctor in the Accident and Emergency wing of the hospital on Tuesday by three relatives of a patient identified as Alhaji Soliu.

According to the hospital, the patient was taken to the hospital for medical attention in the early hours of Tuesday, but later died in the hospital.

The relatives were reportedly furious at what they described as the uncaring attitude of medical staff which they claimed led to the death of their relative.

However, the UITH in its statement said: “We wish to remind members of the public of the roles of healthcare workers in the healthcare management system and the limitations of these healthcare providers in saving lives, especially when Cases brought to them are brought late.

“An existing case was that of a male patient admitted to the UITH Accident and Emergency wing on December 27, 2022.

“The patient in question was one of those cases who presented late to the hospital with serious complications. However, the health workers on duty, especially the doctors, jumped into action, but as he fought for his life, he went into seizures. He stabilized from that stage, leading doctors to take on another case that required emergency care.”

“Three relatives of the patient pounced on one of the doctors on duty, pinned him against the wall and hit him several times, but he managed to escape from them.

“It has now become imperative that the hospital warn patients and their families against any form of attack on their health care providers.

“Just as these workers had sworn to protect the lives of their patients, their own lives should not be in danger.

“Therefore, the management, through the law enforcement officers, has resolved to initiate from now on the arrest and prosecution of any person, whatever their condition, who attempts the life of any of the UITH workers in the exercise of their functions. From now on, legal action will also be taken against the rebellious relatives of our patients,” the hospital management said.

However, he said: “At the same time, we are pledging our absolute commitment to continually save lives and make healthcare accessible to our law-abiding customers.”