Another case of a health system in disarray came to our attention this week. A Sechelt woman wrote us detailing a horrible experience she and her mother experienced recently.
The daughter took her mother to St. Mary's Hospital after she experienced blackouts and a low heart rate. She was diagnosed with a third degree heart blockage and needed a pacemaker as soon as possible.
One problem, though - there were no doctors on staff at St. Mary's at the time to perform the procedure.Despite that, hospital staff desperately tried to find a hospital that could accommodate the woman. Their first try was Lions Gate Hospital. Thinking her mom would be medivaced to Vancouver, the daughter frantically rushed to catch the last ferry to the Lower Mainland, only to find out once she got to Lions Gate, her mom had been sent to Royal Jubilee in Victoria.
With no personal belongings or family members by her side, we can only imagine the ordeal that this 85-year-old woman went through.
Finally, four days after first arriving in Victoria, she was operated on. But that isn't the end to this story.
The daughter was told her mom would be flown back to Sechelt after the operation, but that didn't happen. Hospital staff were going to provide bus fare for the trip home.
This woman has no clothes or personal items, her family is unable to get to Victoria due to costs and other circumstances, and all hospital staff offer as a solution is to give her bus fare and stick her on a bus.
Eventually, a family friend was able to pick the woman up and bring her home, but the family, understandably, is outraged.
Our health care system is in a mess. Doctors and nurses are doing the best they can, but with cuts and lack of funds, it's like we're in a Third World country when it comes to hospital care.
MLA Harold Long was unavailable for comment. Instead we were referred to a communications officer with Vancouver Coastal Health. Harold, do you have the first clue what is going on in your riding?
Harold, it's time you and your government wake up and smell the coffee. This week you announced to the province that you have an unexpected $865 million surplus. The finance minister had the gall to say that once they have a chance to speak to the public, they will decide where to spend some of that money.
Do you guys need a slide rule to figure this out? How many more cases of poor patient care must we hear about? Spend the money on health care - now!
