Editor:
A few weeks ago I had my second knee replacement at Lions Gate Hospital. After a few days of returning home, complications set in that required me to go to the emergency at Sechelt Hospital. My GP ordered blood tests and an X-ray. I arrived at the hospital at 3:30 p.m., the waiting room was full and some had waited for hours. I sat and waited. Eventually I was taken for the tests required and returned to the emergency waiting room. Five plus hours after I initially arrived, I was taken into the emergency examination room. I was in a great deal of pain. I asked staff why it took so long to be seen by a doctor. I was told it is like this every day now. The treatment took place and I left the hospital at 10:45 p.m. I was to come back the next night for another evaluation and treatment. Dreading going through the long wait, upon leaving I asked why were the long waits occurring. I was told that the administration asks for more staff but the government thinks that because we are so close to Lions Gate, we could go to their emergency.
This could be you, too. They feel that one doctor and two nurses, as well as a skeleton crew in the lab and X-ray, is sufficient. Are they looking at a map? Do they have any idea as to the logistics of what we have to go through to get to Lions Gate Hospital due to the very inefficient ferry system that we are dealing with. If anything should happen in the night, we couldn’t get to Lions Gate because the ferries are not operating. Through all of this experience, I commend the staff at the Sechelt Hospital for their pleasant and caring attitude.
Sechelt’s mayor has spoken proudly of how the district issued more building permits last year than ever before. I think it is time to put a stop to issuing building permits until the district or regional district can get a handle on the water supply (water meters are not the answer), the sewage treatment system, accommodating hospital emergencies in a timely manner, and our totally inadequate highway. They are all overwhelmed.
Pauline Smith, West Sechelt
