CATHERINE WATT: ‘My 27-year-old daughter has suffered at the hands of VIHA for the last 3 years’

HEALTH CUTS: MAKING A BAD SITUATION WORSE

The new plan to cut health care even further was not a shock, but merely a confirmation of the sinking feeling in my gut.

My 27-year-old daughter has suffered at the hands of the Vancouver Island Health Authority for the last three years.  

She initially had a broken leg that became infected, in my view because of poor cleaning practices at Royal Jubilee Hospital.

When she was moved to extended care, they forgot that her leg was broken and encouraged her to walk.  

She broke it a second time.

Consequently, she has had eight surgeries and can no longer walk.  

She is stuck living in an extended-care hospital where she is the youngest by almost 40 years.

The extended-care hospital is understaffed and on its ninth acting director in less than two years.

Daily, I hear “we are only down one staff” (the normal staff ratio is an alarming 14:1).

My daughter suffers because of minimal assistance with daily hygiene, no clear communication between nursing staff, “hit and miss” medication dispensing and a complete unwillingness to work with the family to solve problems.

I am rapidly losing hope, and despite phone calls to everybody, nothing changes.

I am scared to get old.

 

Catherine Watt

Victoria

 

[CCC reprint: Victoria Times Colonist, Friday, July 17, 2009, page A11]