Injured senior waits 3 hours on ground in hospital parking lot for medical help

Questions are being raised astir wherefore a 68-year-old crab diligent who fell extracurricular a Halifax infirmary had to hold astir 3 hours for an ambulance — connected the crushed successful betwixt 2 parked cars.

The incidental happened Monday extracurricular the Victoria General tract of the QEII and was each witnessed by Ashley Foster, who was visiting the infirmary astatine the time.

The antheral had conscionable near an assignment and was getting into his car, erstwhile helium accidentally fell.

“All of a abrupt helium conscionable went down and smashed his face,” Foster said, adding that determination was a batch of humor and that the antheral was intelligibly precise injured.

“I ran arsenic accelerated arsenic I could successful the infirmary to spell get somebody. But each they could bash was telephone an ambulance for him.”

Foster said she was shocked the infirmary couldn’t bash much for the man, who was injured specified metres from the hospital’s doors. She said unit told her due to the fact that it was an emergency, it was an contented for the exigency department.

“He stayed retired present for 3 hours connected the ground, for 3 hours connected the infirmary ground. And each that came retired to spot him was security,” she said.

The man’s household spoke to Global News astatine the country and confirmed helium has bony cancer. Relatives said they chose not to determination him retired of fearfulness helium mightiness injure himself more.

Foster said eventually, a parking attendant asked the paramedics connected an ambulance, which had conscionable dropped disconnected a patient, to assistance dainty the man.

He was assessed and went home.

Foster was upset by the situation, and told Global News astatine the country that she felt the full concern was an illustration of “neglect” successful the health-care system.

“I conscionable felt truly atrocious for that poor, aged man. He was retired present for 3 hours, laying connected the ground, sick with cancer, and cipher astatine the Victoria General would travel retired and assistance him astatine all,” she said.

“Just near them determination for 3 hours waiting for an ambulance. That’s perfectly ridiculous.”

Premier responds

When asked astir the incident, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said nary 1 should person had to hold that agelong for an ambulance, and said he’s looking into what happened.

“I recognize immoderate radical person reached retired to radical who were moving wrong the building. We’ll effort to recognize what — is determination immoderate liability contented for them to travel successful the parking lot, each these types of things,” said Houston.

“I’m conscionable not sure. But surely we’ll person discussions to fig retired wherefore this happened and spot what we tin bash to marque definite it doesn’t hap again.”

He added that portion investments are being made successful wellness care, the lawsuit serves arsenic a reminder much improvements are needed.

“There are standards for definite for ambulance effect times. And, you know, we look astatine the information connected however often that’s met. It’s being met much often,” helium said.

“But these situations punctual america that there’s enactment to beryllium done for sure.”

In a statement, Nova Scotia Health spokesperson Brendan Elliott said they promote everyone to telephone 911 if they’re experiencing an exigency astatine 1 of their facilities and “doesn’t person contiguous attraction connected hand.”

“That volition statesman the process of assessing if idiosyncratic needs to beryllium transported for attraction astatine 1 of our exigency departments,” Elliott wrote.

“While we can’t talk to the attraction of individuals, successful this lawsuit Nova Scotia Health unit and information took steps to enactment and comfortableness the diligent portion awaiting the accomplishment of EHS.”

Meanwhile, Emergency Medical Care Inc., which operates crushed ambulance successful the province, said attraction for patients “starts arsenic soon arsenic 911 is called.” Matthew Crossman, president and COO, said successful a connection that the attraction includes regular telephone backs to show the information of the patient.

“Call backs are made by a subordinate of MCC Clinician Team. Our Clinician Team consists of a physician, registered caregiver and objective enactment paramedic who are onsite successful the MCC 24/7,” helium wrote.

For radical who witnessed the lawsuit connected Tuesday, however, questions remain.

“We decidedly request amended wellness attraction options,” said Foster.

“If you’re astatine an assignment astatine a hospital, if you’re an aged person, particularly with crab and you autumn connected your face, they oregon idiosyncratic successful the infirmary should travel retired and cheque connected that idiosyncratic — not conscionable a information guard, successful my opinion.”