MLA Routley Blasts Health Minister Over Staffing Levels for Seniors Care
On Wednesday in the Legislature, Cowichan-Ladysmith MLA Doug Routley raised the issue of inadequate staffing levels that lead to the neglect of a senior in respite care at the Lodge of Fourth in Ladysmith. Following is a transcript of that debate:
Doug Routley
D. Routley: Perhaps a simple question about an individual case will cut through the bluster of the Health Minister
Like many families in this province, Karen Haarala cares for her 89-year-old mother, who has emphysema. Like all caregivers, she needed a break. To get two weeks respite time, Karen placed her mom in the Lodge on 4th, a private care facility in Ladysmith.
Karen's mom needs emphysema medications, but with only one LPN in the evenings for 37 residents, there was not adequate time to properly administer her medications — medications she needs to breathe.
To the Minister of Health: does the minister agree that getting prescribed medications to patients properly and on time is an important part of health care, and does he think this is an important part of health care, and does he think this is an appropriate level of staffing for seniors in our care?
Hon. G. Abbott: I am, first of all, obliged to point out to the member that we do have a nursing shortage in this province. We have been working very hard to remedy that situation. But the fact of the matter is this — and I know the members opposite don't like to hear it: in 1993, 839 nurses graduated in this province. By the year 2001 that had been reduced to 574 nurses in this province — a shameful and deplorable part of that former government's record. Since 2001 we have increased the number of nursing spaces in this province by 83 percent — 3,381 new nursing spaces for British Columbia since 2001.
D. Routley: Karen's mom was able to walk into this facility on her own. Within a few days she was in diapers, couldn't walk and was suffering with bedsores. That was the result of being in that care home for a few weeks. And the clothes that were packed for her were never used. She's been there for close to five weeks now, and Karen's looking into the cost of hiring an ambulance to rescue her mom from the care she's provided.
To the Minister of Health: This is an impossible situation. Health care staff are stretched to the limit by this government's underfunding. Does the minister believe that more needs to be done to protect our seniors?
Hon. G. Abbott: What I am hearing from this member are shameful, deplorable charges that I think are inappropriate. What he has just accused that facility of and what he has just accused those caregivers of is a shameful neglect. If he has charges to make of that character, he should make them outside this chamber. We will investigate, and we will see.
But let me say this. If this member's charges are spurious, will he do the right thing and resign in shame from his position? Complete transcripts from Question Period are available at http://www.leg.bc.ca/hansard/8-8.htm
