28 March 2005 – The Philippine Embassy in London, the United Kingdom reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that they are already extending all possible assistance to the family of Filipino nurse Anna Marie Denso, who passed away in a London hospital on 18 March 2005 after a difficult childbirth.

According to the report of Philippine Ambassador Edgardo B. Espiritu, the Philippine Embassy is coordinating with and extending all possible assistance to Ms. Denso’s husband Arnold and her parents Mr. and Mrs. Reyes.  Ms. Denso’s family had sought the Philippine Embassy’s assistance in claiming the employee benefits of Anna Marie and to ascertain the cause of the Filipino’s death, which remains to be unexplained.

The Labor Attaché of the Philippine Embassy informed Ms. Denso’s family that his Office has made a formal request for employee benefits from Anna Marie’s employer, the Northwick Park Hospital, which is also the hospital where the Filipina nurse gave birth.  The Office of the Labor Attaché was also able to confirm with the Central Office of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Manila that Ms. Denso is a bona fide member of the workers’ fund at the time of her death and thus entitled to OWWA benefits such as expenses for the shipment of remains including funeral and membership insurance.

Ambassador Espiritu also reported that the Embassy has given Ms. Denso’s family its assurances that it will facilitate the filing of the documentary requirements needed for the shipment back to the Philippines of the Filipino’s remains.  This process could be done once the Coroner’s Office comes out with an Interim Certificate of the Fact of Death.

The Embassy also assured the family of its assistance in determining the exact cause of Ms. Denso’s death both through an inquiry with the hospital and with the office of the Coroner.

The Embassy stressed that the precise medical cause of death of Ms. Denso could only be ascertained once an inquest is conducted and the Full Coroner’s Report comes out, which may time a certain amount of time.  The Embassy is coordinating with the Coroner’s Office in order to obtain as soon as possible the full report on the circumstances of Ms. Denso’s death.

According to the Philippine Embassy’s report, Ms. Denso gave birth at the Northwick Park Hospital.  Upon the request of Ms. Denso’s family, she was transferred to St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington as her condition in Northwick Park continued to worsen. END
 
 

./jay