ST JAMES, Jamaica — The Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in St James says a probe into the circumstances surrounding the death of a newborn at the facility revealed that all protocols were followed.

“I have had the opportunity to sit with the chief of the obstetrics and gynaecology department to look at the case in detail, and I can assure you that based on what is documented, and I’ve stated at the outset that this was a high-risk pregnancy, all the necessary steps, without any bias at all, were employed in order to have a successful outcome,” Clinical Coordinator at CRH, Dr Delroy Fray told reporters at a press conference on Thursday evening.

“We are all saddened by it, you know, when you try your best and you just didn’t produce,” he lamented.

The long standing hospital administrator said the hospital has since informed the child’s mother, Shandale Ballentine, of the findings of the investigations.

“We have since met with Ms Valentine, explained to her what has happened, and of course, we have to await a post-mortem on the child to get a final diagnosis to see what has happened,” he explained.

“Once that is done, we will meet with her again, and then we will explain what has happened to see, you know, it’s going to be difficult to put some sort of closure to the situation,” he added.

On Good Friday, Ballentine had been taken in at the hospital with the intention of bearing her first child, a son, but to her sorrow, her child passed.

“It is with deep regret that we have to comment on a situation like this, very traumatic situation,” Fray added.

Health Minister, Dr Christopher Tufton, who was also at the press conference, expressed condolences to the family, and said it was important shed some light on the issue.

“I think it’s important that while it is a very tragic situation and we must show full support to the mother and family, and that has been offered, we also must be careful to manage the accuracy of the information to ensure that whatever has transpired. Wherever there needs to be accountability, there is, transparency, there is lessons learned, there should be,” he said.