Health Minister to probe death of Rising Star

Updated 4:50 p.m.
A thorough investigation into the death of Digicel Rising Star Patrice Bascombe is to be launched.

Word of this comes as Vincentians try to come to grips with the news and some people blame the quality of health care at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.{{more}}

Searchlight understands that Patrice’s grieving parents have been given the assurance of a thorough investigation into the death of their 18-year-old daughter by Health Minister Dr Douglas Slater.

Patrice who succumbed to injuries Thursday morning after being in a car accident two days earlier was rushed to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital where she was placed under observation. Digicel was making arrangements for an air ambulance to transport her abroad for treatment but before those arrangements could be made she died.

Although the Arnos Vale resident was wearing a cervical collar for an injury she sustained to her neck, it was reported that Bascombe suffered no broken bones and had no major serious outward wounds except for some bad bruises.

Reports are however that on Wednesday night Bascombe’s condition worsened and she was crying out for severe abdominal pain and was vomiting a brownish substance.

By Thursday morning doctors requested emergency surgery but she died around 10:30 am before getting to the operating theatre.

Patrice was one of the two local finalists in the Digicel Rising Star competition and was scheduled to compete in October against finalists from seven other Caribbean countries.

The talented youngster who won numerous awards in the National Dance and Gospel Festivals had aspirations of attending a university in the United States where she hoped to study Performing Arts while majoring in business.

The date for the funeral is to be announced.