On Oct. 7 my wife was operated on for an aneurysm. The overall planning and care at the University Hospital was exceptional. It took a month of preparation with five-day visits for various investigative tests. The staff, down to the kitchen servers, were excellent and did their best to assist my wife's recovery. The nurses provided quality care. My wife's surgeon is very dedicated and professional. He started rounds at 6:30 a.m. and checked on my wife at 8 p.m.
On day two my wife was moved to the recovery ward. She was placed with an elderly lady suffering dementia who was awaiting placement to a care home. This lady twice came over to my wife's bed and verbally attacked us. I spoke with her daughter who was very considerate and told me her mother had been waiting 30 days for placement. After several complaints my wife was moved to the observation quad care room. This room had four patients and was designed for those requiring constant observation.
Later I ran into a lady recovering from a brain tumour operation. She informed me that she had been physically attacked by the same person. Her sister told me she had to step in between them to prevent injury (She told me she did not file a formal complaint because she is a government employee).
The brain surgery recovery ward houses several dementia patients for extended periods of time, waiting for placement in care homes. This is ineffective and a terrible use of our health dollars. Hospital beds are high value. Observation beds are premium. The care provided to my wife and the lady who had a tumour removed was compromised. The care for the elderly dementia patient would have been better in the appropriate facility.
I discussed this matter with hospital staff, the surgeon and management. They agreed it was wrong but many told me "nobody cared." I wrote to our MLA, the University Hospital and the medical ombudsman about my experience. They acknowledged my letter but have provided no other advice. The hospital said they had no reason to think this dementia patient was dangerous.
The root of the problem is political. A complicated set of restrictions has been established with respect to the placement of elderly patients, largely to placate the relatives. Temporary placement must be local even if a suitable facility was available outside the city. Even within the hospitals and wards, dementia patients are rarely transferred.
This problem does not exist in commercially run facilities such as in the United States.
As a community we must take care of our elderly but we must also accept temporary inconveniences. Politically our elected bodies must be prepared to make hard decisions. All of us must care.
Wayne Richardson, St. Albert
