The wife of a Prince Rupert man who suffered a six-inch laceration on his head and a concussion after being released from the hospital says he should not have been released. She fears the incident is indicative of a worsening healthcare situation in the city.
Tish Losier woke up March 19 to her husband, Joe Budnisky, who has epilepsy, having a seizure. She immediately called for an ambulance. An ambulance showed up soon after, but when it arrived at the Prince Rupert Regional Hospital at 6:30 a.m., the emergency room was still closed, only opening at 8 a.m. before closing again at 3 p.m. the same day.
The emergency room in Prince Rupert has seen six closures since March 8 due to a physician shortage, causing increasing concern and frustration for residents as rumours swirl of up to eight doctors leaving the area or retiring soon. (EditorB次元官网网址檚 note: The Northern View has not been able to confirm the number of physicians leaving or retiring, but Northern Health says it is aware of several and that three new ones are arriving before year-end.)
While waiting for the emergency room to open, Losier said Budnisky had more seizures in the ambulance before he was seen. When the emergency room opened, she said the hospital was already overwhelmed.
B次元官网网址淭hey just said, B次元官网网址榳e donB次元官网网址檛 have the beds or the staff and you have to take him home.B次元官网网址� I knew it wasnB次元官网网址檛 right,B次元官网网址� she told The Northern View.
B次元官网网址淗e never should have been released this morning.B次元官网网址�
Losier said when her husband has seizures he is usually held for an extended period at the emergency room before being released, but was only tended to briefly this time before being sent back home. There, another seizure caused him to fall head-first onto a concrete block.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e walking between the car and the house and he had another seizure mid-walk and fell directly into a cement block, knocked his front tooth out and split his head wide open,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淚 could see his skull, like it was right down to the bone and he was bleeding everywhere, it was awful.B次元官网网址�
When she called for an ambulance again, there were none available.
With no ambulance available Losier called on her neighbours for help.
B次元官网网址淚 got a friend and two of my neighbours and we got him into the back of the neighbourB次元官网网址檚 car and we got him back to the ER,B次元官网网址� she said.
He was treated and released again, but the couple had to return a third time after Budnisky began vomiting blood, which Losier said was related to the concussion.
B次元官网网址淔rom literally the moment I opened my eyes and him having a seizure in bed, the entire day was a nightmare,B次元官网网址� Losier said.
B次元官网网址滻t was traumatizing, I donB次元官网网址檛 know if thereB次元官网网址檚 another word for it.B次元官网网址�
Losier said she regrets not taking her husband to Terrace in the morning, where she believes he would have received more comprehensive treatment.
B次元官网网址滻 donB次元官网网址檛 think they would have released him that quickly from Terrace. I think they would have maybe taken a better look,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淚nstead of being rushed at 8 a.m. with a crowd of people, theyB次元官网网址檇 have it more under control and been able to triage us properly and given the care that he neededB次元官网网址� every time I look at him I have to wonder, B次元官网网址榳hat would have happened if I took him to TerraceB次元官网网址�.B次元官网网址�
Losier B次元官网网址� who herself has had serious health complications B次元官网网址� now worries this means the couple will have to rely on the emergency room for basic treatment, which is what she believes is a key reason for the perceived poor quality of care her husband received on March 19.
B次元官网网址漌e call for an ambulance and thereB次元官网网址檚 no ambulance available. I mean, sometimes thatB次元官网网址檚 just life in the North, but you hope that they prioritize this stuff,B次元官网网址� she said.
Losier and Budnisky were notified last week they will also be losing their family physician.
Budnisky, who was born and raised in Prince Rupert and Losier, who has lived in the city for eight years, are now considering leaving due to the healthcare issues the area faces.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been an absolute nut-show for us medically, everythingB次元官网网址檚 in Vancouver,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淲hat are we going to do? ThereB次元官网网址檚 going to be a point where I have to make a call. Where do I take him? Maybe IB次元官网网址檒l take a leave of absence or some vacation from my workplace and just go somewhere so they can get him to a stable point. HeB次元官网网址檚 not stable, these seizures arenB次元官网网址檛 stable right now, and nobodyB次元官网网址檚 addressing that.B次元官网网址�
Northern Health said they have been working around the clock to prevent emergency room closures and recruit new physicians for the region.
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