GEORGE TOWN: A woman had to deliver her baby in the car when she could not reach a public hospital in time – apparently just hours after being sent home from one despite her protests.

       According to a post on the PenangKu Viral Facebook page, the woman ended up at a private hospital after giving birth.

       The post claimed that the woman’s husband was now upset at having to pay for the “unexpected” hospital bill.

       He blamed a public hospital for turning his wife away earlier. The time of the incident was recorded but there was no mention of the day on which it occurred.

       The woman, from Sungai Ara, had reportedly checked into the hospital on the mainland at 11am after there were signs that labour was imminent.

       At 12.30pm, a doctor came to check on the woman and found that her cervix was only dilated to 2cm.

       Some three hours later, according to the post, the woman was asked to go home as she was told that it would be some time before she could go into labour.

       It was then that the woman pleaded with the hospital to let her stay, saying she was living in Sungai Ara, which is far away.

       However, her pleas were allegedly ignored.

       Shortly after reaching home, the woman told her husband she needed to be rushed to hospital again at about 7pm.

       Travel times to public hospitals ranged from 50 minutes to 1 hour and 20 minutes at that time, owing to peak-hour traffic.

       The woman ended up delivering her baby in the car before her husband took her to the nearest private hospital.

       A Penang Health Department spokesman said the department would come up with a report after completing its investigation.

       He said the report would be forwarded to the Health Ministry.