Dear Editor:
MLA Harry Bloy's report regarding Burnaby Hospital will keep discussions going for some time to come.
Without having read it, I get the gist so far: let's spend lots and lots of taxpayer money! Somebody will vote for the politician who makes the wildest demands.
Sure, sooner or later it may become cheaper to re-build instead of adding one more awkward new wing.
Being told that the system can no longer accomodate the extra electricity needed for a Christmas tree, makes that point.
As a very recent guest at the facilities, I have suggestions that I find rather embarassing to pass on in such a public manner.
Especially because one of the incidents involves one of my favourite nurses who was always helpful and cheerful to boot. (Had she not been that, I might have complained and, undoubtedly, someone would have tried to identify the staff involved.)
But, I reluctantly decided to mention it anyway as it may, just may, do some good.
One morning, said nurse kicked over a urinal under my bed.
By the time my wife visited late that same afternoon the mess had noticably just dried up on the floor and at least 20 people had to have walked through it without addressing what, I would have assumed to be, a very, very basic concern in a hospital!
I will spare you the details of a dirty toilet. It was particularly gross because it was not taken care of by the staff for hours, even though one of the nurses was there when the accident happened and, besides myself, one other patient drew it to the attention of staff.
I am sure you will agree, that it would not cost a penny extra to pull a cleaner out of their routine and let them take care of accidents or emergencies.
That is common practice in grocery stores when a customer breaks a ketchup bottle. But not in a hospital?
Breakfast arrives and the patient better know how to fend for himself if at all interested in personal hygene and washing up a little before touching the food.
A rather tall order in my case, being unable to take a trip to the washroom unassisted. Even when assisted it was a major undertaking.
Did this hospital not have a problem with infections? Should I still wonder why?
Oh, yes . one day two young ladies went from bed to bed to enquire how often patients had brushed their teeth during preceding days.
Obviously there is (wo)manpower, providing management finds something to do for them that seems important.
On a more pleasant note, all staff was accommodating, polite and exceptionally cheerful.
It would have delighted me no end had I been able to just post the preceding sentence!
Ziggy Eckardt, Burnaby
