Would you like a coffee or cough medicine? That is the question that some patients in New Westminster, B.C Royal Columbian Hospital could have been asked on the evening of Monday, February 23, 2011. Due to the increasing problem of overcrowding during the past few years the emergency ward at this hospital has had to, yes; put patients in the Tim Horton’s restaurant located in the hospital. It was at approximately 9pm on Feb 23, when a large influx of patients arrived at the emergency ward. Struggling with hallways and closets already overcrowded the staff at the hospital had no choice but to look for an alternative location for the patients to go.
The public have expressed that they are by no means unhappy with the staff in the hospitals, they understand that they were simply doing what needed to be done - find a place to put their patients. The public told news reporters that they would rather be laying next to the espresso machine then to be sent home unwell. However as understanding as the public may be toward the staff at the hospital they seem equally frustrated at the government’s lack of hospital funding.
As well there is the question of safety. Tim Horton’s has only been used this one time for a couple of hours but what about the overcrowding which has caused patients to frequently be placed in hallways and even closets. There have been complaints regarding privacy issues, not just from patients but from doctors as well voicing their frustration at the lack of privacy to allow patients to speak freely and feel secure that doctor/patient confidentiality is honored. This problem is not only a provincial one but one that affects the public right across Canada. Infections can spread much faster with patients in hallways. There is also the question of whether or not cleanliness standards are being compromised due to admitting and discharging patients as quickly as possible to allow for more room.
As I said this is not just a concern in B.C but across Canada. Quebec has been faced with this problem also and it is said that the hospitals there are running above their recommended safety capacity. Locals in the area are reporting that they have been left on stretchers for hours in hallways not being treated or given a bed. There have also been reports sating that some 100 patients were left on stretchers for up to two days. The Quebec government has said that improvements have been made however they are still experiencing a lack of space. Regarding the spreading of infection, an outbreak has once again occurred in Ottawa called the VRA. The director of infection control has been quoted stating that the overcrowding in hospitals is partly to blame for this recent epidemic. On a side note, the VRA is an antibiotic resistant bug. So let me ask you, how would you like to go to the hospital for a medical complaint and come out with a completely different illness?
Overcrowding in hospitals has been an ongoing problem at Royal Columbian hospital for years, especially since Saint Mary’s Hospital closed in 2004. The staff at Saint Mary’s predicted this problem would occur. They even protested, during which they stated that there would be an insufficient number of beds, unfortunately for the public they turned out to be right. There continues to be proposals for the expansion of the Royal Columbian hospital but nothing is set to be completed until at least 2015. But my question is what do we do until then? Perhaps they will build another Tim Hortons across the street just in case, this could probably be completed in just a few months’ time. You never know, put all the coffee shops in Vancouver together and you might just have a hospital. Now I hope you know I’m being sarcastic but this is really what it has come down to. The question to be asking is why hasn’t something being done sooner?
There is a staggering increase in housing in the greater Vancouver area and lower mainland all the way to east Chilliwack. Shouldn’t a certain percentage of revenues from developers be allotted for schools and hospitals? What about the taxes from these housing developments, is enough of the money that is being collected being used to fund these essential services? What will happen when people move into these developments and have to deal with overcrowded hospitals and schools? It is in the public interest that these issues be dealt with and in a timely manner.
In the residential areas just discussed it is, as I said, not just lack of space in hospitals but is schools as well. Recently there was a walk out and student protest at the Earl Marriot School in Surrey B.C on Tuesday March 1, 2011. Students protested stating that they wanted more space. Halls and classrooms are overcrowded and students have been asked to leave the building on their breaks. Currently Earl Marriot School is over capacity by over 300 students. The school has set up portables for extra class room but state that they don’t have enough funds to expand further.
There continues to be an increase in residential areas throughout the greater Vancouver area and the cities throughout are continuing to allow developers to build with no plan published to help with the overcrowding in hospitals and schools. It is an increasing problem that citizens need to be aware of and governments need to be responsible to provide sufficient funding and essential services for citizens.
Reference list
Ivens, A. (2011, March 1). Surrey student walkout over plan to extend school hours. The Province.
Retrieved from
http://www.theprovince.com
Luba, F. (2011, March 2). Tim Hortons doubles as New Westminster emergency room. The Province Retrieved from http://www.theprovince.com
News staff. (2011, March 3). Ottawa Civic Hospital struggling to contain outbreak of bacteria caused partly by overcrowding. 1310 News. Retrieved from http://www.1310news.
News Staff. (2011, March 2). Tim Hortons triage: B.C. patients treated in coffee shop. CTV News. Retrieved from http://montreal.ctv.ca
Quebec fights ER overcrowding. (2011, January 6). CBC News. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca
Tim Hortons-turned-ER a sign system works: Hansen. (2011, March 1). CBC News. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca
