A family in Ilorin has levelled serious allegations of medical negligence against Cottage Hospital, Adewole/Olorunsogo, following the death of a newborn baby and severe complications suffered by the mother during childbirth.

The incident, shared on Facebook by Fatimah Morenikeji Abdur-Razaq, a relative of the patient and monitored by JUST EVENT ONLINE TV, involved a first-time mother who reportedly went into labour on Sunday, November 16, 2025. She had been receiving antenatal care at the same facility from the beginning of her pregnancy and was said to have never missed an appointment.

According to the family's account, the patient was initially assessed on Sunday morning and told she was 2cm dilated, with instructions to return the following day. However, due to increasing labour pains by evening, she returned to the hospital around 6-7 p.m.

The family's statement highlighted that the hospital's subsequent actions amounted to negligence, leading to the tragic death of the newborn and severe maternal health issues.

The family alleges that upon her return, hospital staff declared she was 6cm dilated but failed to monitor her adequately despite signs that labour had progressed. It was claimed that the patient repeatedly called for assistance, complaining of pressure and the need to defecate symptoms commonly associated with full dilation yet was reportedly ignored while nurses engaged in conversations.

When delivery eventually commenced, the baby came out with a single push, a process the family believes should have been medically supported in stages, especially for a first-time mother. The delivery allegedly resulted in severe tearing and excessive bleeding.

The newborn reportedly did not cry at birth but showed signs of life. The family alleges that nurses attempted resuscitation for nearly an hour before attempting to connect oxygen, during which an electrical fault caused the socket to blow. The newborn was later declared dead.

While the infant was being attended to, the family claims the mother was left unattended despite heavy bleeding. She was eventually referred to the General Hospital, despite the ongoing strike by resident doctors. According to the family, the hospital did not verify the availability of services at the referral centre before issuing the referral note.

The patient was later taken to a private hospital in Adewole, where she underwent several hours of stitching and received two pints of blood before stabilising. She was discharged on Tuesday.

The family further alleges that nurses from Cottage Hospital visited the private facility the following day to demand additional payment, claiming that a transfer made the previous night did not reflect.

Multiple testimonies from community members, including a school colleague of the patient's mother, were also cited, alleging previous similar experiences at the same hospital, including cases of newborn deaths and maternal complications.

As of the time of filing this report, Cottage Hospital Adewole had yet to release any official response to the allegations.

The family is calling on relevant health authorities to investigate the incident and ensure accountability in public healthcare facilities. They also advised expectant mothers to maintain antenatal records in both private and public hospitals for safety and emergency preparedness.