SASKATOON, Sask. — The Saskatchewan NDP continued their critique Monday of the provincial government’s Patients First Health Care Plan, this time bringing to attention the case of an elderly patient who was left lying down on the floor of the Royal University Hospital last week due to no available rooms.
A few days after highlighting the death of Kristin Hanke, the woman whose death could have been prevented, opposition again cited a separate case of another medical experience at Saskatoon’s hospitals, as people continue to share their stories.
Associate Shadow Health Minister Keith Jorgenson, in a media event on Monday, Sept. 21, at his and Saskatoon Sutherland MLA Tajinder Grewal’s constituency office on 8th Street, said the picture sent by 72-year-old Edward Guenther’s daughter, Angela, shows the state of Saskatchewan’s health care.
Guenther, who was suffering from uncontrolled seizures, went to RUH on Wednesday, Sept. 9, but was sent home the following day, where he was dropped off at his house by a cab.
Jorgenson said Guenther’s daughter, Angela, who lived across from his father’s house, saw him outside on the street around 4 a.m., where he seemed unaware of where he was or what was going on. Guenther returned to RUH on Sunday, Sept. 13, but this time accompanied by his daughter.
“This is a 72-year-old man, treated on the floor of the province's largest hospital. You know, we see the Premier of Saskatchewan go around saying that his patient-first health care plan is working. I would ask you to look at that picture,” said Jorgenson, pointing to Angela’s photo of his father.
“According to the Premier of Saskatchewan, this is a picture of our health care system working and improving. [Health Minister] Jeremy Cockrell tells us all the time that he has the most ambitious health care plan of anyone in the province, and again, I ask you to look at that picture.”
Jorgenson added that Guenther was exhausted and had not slept for several days when he was treated on the floor at RUH. He said Guenther was later moved from the floor to a secure room, which Jorgenson described as smelling of urine and allegedly having graffiti on the walls.
The Saskatoon Churchill-Wildwood MLA said Guenther remained at RUH and was later moved to the Dubé Centre, but, as of Monday, had not been placed on a waiting list for a diagnostic test to determine the cause of his seizures.
“I think of my own grandparents, or my dad. That's not how anyone wants to be treated. We want to be treated with dignity and privacy. And this is like a busy, chaotic waiting room,” said Jorgenson, who added that it was a troubling situation for an older and frail man experiencing uncontrolled seizures.
Jorgenson also questioned why Guenther was discharged after his first visit to RUH despite being confused and experiencing seizures, raising concerns about whether vulnerable patients are being assessed not only for their medical condition but also for whether they can safely return home.
He also pointed to a letter signed by about 450 health care professionals at RUH last year raising concerns about working conditions and other medical issues in Saskatoon’s health facilities. He called on Premier Scott Moe and Cockrill to meet with hospital staff.
No longer the same
Angela, Guenther’s daughter, said the experience changed how she views the province’s healthcare system, and she felt it is no longer the same as when she was growing up, citing her dad's experience. Since sharing her story, she has heard from others about their own experiences.
“Since sharing my dad’s story on social media, I have heard from many other people who have shared difficult and heartbreaking health care experiences of their own. Their circumstances are different, and I can only speak to what they have chosen to share with me,” said Guenther in a statement.
“But hearing those stories has added to my concern. I don’t know how representative those experiences are of health care across the entire province. I do know that every one of those experiences belongs to a real person or family who felt frightened, frustrated or let down at a time when they needed help.”
She added that serious conversations should be held to learn about the situations that patients and their families are experiencing, why this continues to happen, and what needs to be done to improve health care service in all of the province’s hospitals.
“I’m sharing this because my dad’s experience matters, but this isn’t only about my dad. It’s also about the other patients and families who are struggling to get the care they need. Most of all, I keep thinking about the people who have no one there to speak for them,” said Angela.
Patients seen based on urgency
The government, through the Saskatchewan Health Authority, said in a statement that emergency department health care teams are committed to providing safe, accessible, high-quality emergency services to all patients across Saskatchewan.
“We are thankful to the emergency department health care teams who continue serving patients with dedication and professionalism. Hospital emergency departments operate on the triage system, not a first-come, first-served basis,” said the SHA.
The statement added that patients are seen based on the urgency of their need for care, with the most immediate needs seen first. EDs often experience fluctuations in patient volumes, and medical staff are always adapting to meet demand.
“The SHA is implementing several strategies to improve access to care in emergency departments, including adding acute care capacity, such as the addition of 109 new acute care beds at Saskatoon City Hospital, the additional 24 acute care and four ICU beds at St. Paul’s Hospital, and 36 acute care beds at [RUH] that were announced as part of the Patient’s First Health Care Plan,” said the statement.
The SHA declined to comment further due to privacy and patient confidentiality, especially based on an individual’s care experience. Individuals with questions or concerns about their health care experience can contact the SHA’s Client Concerns Office.
