Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I stand before the House today dismayed and frustrated. The reason: yet another failing of our health system. A family in Fort Simpson wanted me to raise this issue so no one has to go through this, and I hope we can learn from our mistakes.
This most recent case happened on Wednesday, February 5th , when a Fort Simpson elder slipped
and fell in her home. She was taken by ambulance to the health centre, where two X-rays were taken. The first was blurry, so a second one was taken. Not seeing any obvious break, the doctor sent her home with a prescription of Tylenol 3.
On Thursday she was transported by her daughter in a single-cab pick-up truck for a follow-up appointment. Given my constituent’s condition, she should have been transported by home care in a van designed for disabled clients. In any case, the health centre medical staff failed a second time to diagnose her fractured hip and sent her home once again.
On Friday home care staff made a visit, but no doctor or nurse requested a follow-up examination. She spent the day in pain and great discomfort. It interfered with her eating, sleeping and even going to the washroom.
On Saturday, still in extreme pain, she was brought to the health centre a third time. Finally the doctor diagnosed a fracture and had her medevaced to Yellowknife. There she was thoroughly examined and promptly sent for surgery.
I apologize to my elder constituent and wish her a speedy recovery. I’m also looking to the Minister for immediate action to get to the bottom of this.
Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated incident. Last October I complained in this House about elders being sent home with aspirins instead of being medevaced to Yellowknife for a full examination. My concerns were triggered by a similar case in which an elder’s broken wrist went undiagnosed for months.
Among seniors, falls are the leading cause of injury. About one-quarter of falls result in moderate to severe injuries, and over 95 percent of hip fractures are caused by falls.
But it’s not only elders being incorrectly diagnosed. A third recent case involved a child who suffered for weeks without receiving critical health care for a serious condition.
The Department of Health and Social Services needs to review its protocols. Errors like this are inexcusable. Mahsi cho.