I recently spent six days at Kelowna General Hospital and I am appalled at what transpired.
I commend the doctors and the nurses, as no doubt their input is not welcomed or accepted, even though they are the ones having to deal with decisions there.
The Interior Health Authority’s decision to remove the time limitations on visiting hours is the most questionable you could ever make.
I was in a four-bed ward and the man in the bed next to me was very disruptive and it was impossible to get any rest or sleep. I went four days with no sleep. It is not my place to make judgment on him or his medical condition but while he said he had pneumonia, there appeared to be other self-inflicted problems. He sang, he yelled, he swore, he continuously rang his bell and put the nurses in embarrassing positions with his proclamations. At 3 a.m., with this still continuing, two of his buddies, also patients, came to visit him and there was even more disturbance and noise. The nurses have to deal with this and it was their duty to call security if it got out of hand.
On the night before I was discharged, my bed was needed so I was moved to a hall. Thinking I would now get some peace and quiet, I quickly learned that was wishful thinking as in the same hallway next to me was another patient who liked the sound of his own voice and ranted and raved and generally gave the nurses a lot of problems with his complaints of what was being done for him and when he could be discharged. That too continued all night.
To add to this, another one of their ilk chose to walk the hallway all night, dressed in street clothes, including jacket and toque and he was in and out of the hospital frequently. Sometimes he was dragging an IV pole with IV bag but I don’t know if it was the real thing or a ploy. He too was a problem for the nurses as he kept stopping at their station to talk to them, even to fill out an employment application. He was back and forth into rooms and into the coffee room, which was across from me. I wondered if my illness was making me hallucinate or was this the real thing?
IHA officials should go to the hospital some morning at 3 a.m. to witness this first hand. You don’t need a room, as there is a hall for patients nor do you need a bed as sleep is not available. It would be a real awakening if you go.
Surely the IHA board welcomes input from the doctors and nurses and they would give you their thoughts on this situation as they work with it first hand.
I understand medical attention is available to all of us regardless of our situation but is it fair that one person can disrupt the rest and sleep of three other people?
Can IHA not provide a separate ward for them rather than mix everyone up? I understand some of these unfortunates don’t have medical insurance but they are entitled the same as us who do.
I beg IHA to rectify this situation before the security of the facility is jeopardized.
Beryl Nerling
Vernon
