Health-care worker says man's death while waiting in Nanaimo ER could have been prevented
A health-care worker says they believe a man's recent death while waiting for care in the emergency room at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital could have been prevented.
The source, who works at the hospital, tells CTV News that the middle-aged man arrived at the emergency room on Monday seeking urgent help.
The health-care worker, who is sharing their story anonymously out of fear of losing their job, says the man was suffering from a condition that could have been treated if he'd been helped in time.
But instead, it's alleged that the man was forced to wait in the emergency room for three hours before he died.
The whistleblower tells CTV News that about 50 people were in the waiting room and the man was in obvious need of urgent care. However, because of a lack of staff, he didn't get that care in time.
'PATIENT GOT PROMPT ATTENTION'
Island Health calls the man's death tragic, but disputes some of the details.
The health authority says the man waited in a "monitored area" of the emergency room for less than two hours and that he was attended to during that time.
Island Health says he received an early triage assessment, treatment and testing but that his health "very rapidly" declined.
"The patient got prompt attention," said Dr. Ben Williams, chief medical executive and vice president of medicine and quality for Island Health.
"When they deteriorated they got immediate action from a health-care team that did everything they could, and unfortunately that patient still passed away," said Williams.
The Nanaimo Regional General Hospital is shown. (CTV News)
Island Health says it's conducting a review of the man's death, as it does for all sudden deaths.
"I think we're going to review every aspect of the case, as we do, to see if there's any areas we can improve, where we can do better," said Williams.
STAFF CONCERNS
The health-care worker who spoke with CTV News says they came forward because they believe there's a problem of overcrowding at the hospital, along with a lack of staff.
They believe this man's death could have been prevented, and they were motivated to speak up.
Williams says staffing levels at the ER that day were at 82 per cent, and described the Nanaimo ER as the "busiest emergency room on the island."
"I want to say that our hearts and my heart go out to this individual's friends and family, and also the health-care professionals involved in their care," said Williams.
The Island Health executive added that it's a "difficult time in health care."
"I think the public knows that and our staff know that," he said, adding that he was proud of the work the Nanaimo ER team did that day, despite the difficult circumstances.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for 'all parties' to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.