Dear Editor:
I am a senior who had to have surgery for cancer at the Burnaby General Hospital. My recent experience in the hospital is unacceptable.
After my cancer operation, I had to share my room with other patients. One had six visitors one night, and the other 10 for a total of 16. They brought children and babies. The children were allowed to run around. My son complained to the nurses and was told that there was nothing they could do about it, even though there are signs stating "Only two visitors per patient." I was also concerned about germs being spread around as these visitors were using the patients' bathroom. Is this how the hospitals control the spread of infection? How can anyone heal under those conditions?
I was sent home after five days with no home care and was told to see my family doctor to have the staples removed and change the bandages. I visited the family doctor three times that week. The following weekend the doctor's office was closed due to the Thanksgiving weekend. I was unable to get the bandages changed and developed an infection and was readmitted to the Burnaby Hospital for six more days.
Had Burnaby Hospital arranged home care in the first place, I would not have developed the infection and I would not have taken up a bed for a second time, saving health care a lot of money. This would have been cheaper for the health-care system and less agonizing for me.
Gladys McManus, Burnaby
