Editor:
Recently I had a medical issue and was placed in a CCU (Critical Care) room in the new St. Mary's Hospital. The CCU room is a design disaster and those who designed and who approved the construction of the facility should be ashamed. The room has no bathroom, but a lab like cupboard with a small sink. When you open the doors under the sink a toilet revolves out to meet you. This is a low toilet, with no handrails or grab bars, wastewater from this toilet flush through the cupboard in a flexible hose, attached with two hose clamps. The privacy curtain cannot be drawn because of an overhead crane, so the user is "on view." There is a large window/sliding door at the front of the room so all who are passing in the hallway will see the patient.
There is no closet for your clothes and possessions, instead they must be tossed on a chair for all to see (or steal), light switches are on the wall out of reach and were installed backwards (off is on). There is no light that the patient can control from bed. There are two huge, very bright "night lights" which staff block with furniture.
I hope that Vancouver Coastal Health will be awakened to these dysfunctional designs and retro build these rooms. Our new hospital wing is already inadequate/unable to meet the demand for rooms.
We need to start the process for additional hospital space.
Positively, we are blessed, with a wonderful medical staff. I hold high praise to each doctor, nurse, support staff person and paramedic. We are lucky to have these concerned and capable professionals.
R.S. (Bob) Paulin, Sechelt
