Recently I was a surgical patient at UHNBC.
I write this letter to show my appreciation and also to raise an awareness as to the needs we have regarding our health care program here in Prince George and surrounding regions.
I was born in B.C., and have been a citizen of Prince George for 52 years. My husband and I worked and raised our family here. I worked as an LPN at UHNBC for 22 years, and have been retired now for 15 years.
So, I have seen our needs change and grow over the years.
Years ago (35+), we lost good specialists and surgeons, and also nurses because we needed then and still need more room. And we need more nurses, both LPN's and RN's. Whatever happened to the 2,000 nurses B. C. was promised?
The specialists and surgeons could not get the OR time they needed so they moved south.
We are and have always been the Northern Capital of B.C. Our hospital covers a very large area. Kamloops would be our next closest larger hospital.
I would like to express my gratitude to the excellent surgeon I had, Dr. K. We are so fortunate to have him here in Prince George. Dr. K. has patients waiting up to two years to get in to see him, never mind setting up dates for OR. Also, a big thank you to my own Dr. M.
And all workers from admission up-they are all so courteous and helpful.
The nursing staff is exceptional, and I can't give them enough praise for the care they give. Everyone working at UHNBC is doing the best they can with what they have. A special thanks to nurse Ashley for making me a "fort" for my room in the hallway, where I was till D/C on my fourth day. I referred to it as 'tent city at UHNBC!'
It gave me more privacy and protection. I was a fresh post-op patient with an IV, foley catheter, and was on oxygen, and I was a previous MRSA patient in 2010.
I was moved to the hallway before the end of my first day, because that room was needed by someone whose condition was worse than my own. Four other patients were also moved to the hallway that particular night.
That's how great the need for more room (beds) is. These nurses are hard working, dedicated people. They are constantly moving patients as needs require. I cannot give them enough praise. But, priorities change due to workload. This is understandable.
I was only once offered a basin for a morning wash, or immediately post-op. My personal care was given by my family or myself. Even activities, as walks. Again, we need more nurses.
Cleanliness should be a part of the nursing care a patient receives, I think...
We have OR rooms that are shut down because we do not have enough nurses and doctors to staff them, and then we do not have the room for them following surgery.
We are a university hospital - that is, we train doctors and nurses right here in Prince George at our college and university. But we are in dire need of more room, and more nurses. I feel we are tax paying citizens who need and deserve better from our health care.
How do you feel?
Paulette McCabe
Prince George
