I have been a patent in the dialysis unit in Vernon for two years. I have complained about the cold in the unit in both the summer and winter, and other patients also complain of the cold.
And for two years, I have been told, “We are having somebody look at it,” but nothing changes.
The patients wear winter jackets and cover ourselves with quilts, and it is still cold. They lay on recliners for four hours at a time, three days a week, and that in itself is uncomfortable without the cold added to it.
Even the staff of wonderful nurses feel the cold and resort to jackets at times, and they are moving around and not laying in one position for four hours.
We hear the problem is with the air conditioning, which kicks in and blasts cold air through the ceiling vents located above us.
Interior Health leases the building so it should get the landlord to fix it or move out, or withhold the rent.
IH publicizes quality care but that does not seem to apply to the Vernon dialysis unit. The nurses give us quality care but having to endure the cold for four hours is not quality care.
Dialysis is necessary for a person whose kidneys have failed. The process is hard on your body and treatments can cause dizziness, cramping or nausea. So going for treatments is not the most pleasant experience, let alone going to treatment and being constantly chilled. This happens summer and winter so there is no respite.
If there is not any action to remedy this problem in the near future, I will initiate a public petition to get some support. Maybe then, instead of somebody coming to look at it, somebody will come and fix it once and for all.
Beryl Nerling
Vernon
