Below is a copy of the email I have sent to the premier and the Provincial Health Minister. Please feel free to copy it and send it to your elected representatives, the minister of health and the premier. Together we can make a difference and make sure that no-one has to suffer as Mr. Williams did and that no family needs to have the burden of worrying about how well a loved one is being looked after once they have been admitted to a hospital.
The names of the members of the Nova Scotia Legislature can be found at this link. http://www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/members/directory/constituencies.html
I am including the contact information for the premier and for the health minister below. Please copy and paste the links as required.
Emails or letters to the Premier, the minister of health and/or your elected represeentative will help.
The Premier of Nova Scotia - Darrell Dexter
Telephone: 902-424-6600
Fax: 902-424-7648
Toll-free Message Line: 1-800-267-1993
E-mail Address: premier@gov.ns.ca
Address:
Office of the Premier
PO Box 726
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 2T3.
The Minister of Health for Nova Scotia Maureen MacDonald
Business Address:
Department of Health
4th Floor, Joseph Howe Building
1690 Hollis Street
P.O. Box 488
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 2R8
Phone: (902) 424-3377
Fax: (902) 424-0559
health.minister@gov.ns.ca
Department of Health Promotion and Protection
5th Floor, Summit Place
1601 Lower Water Street
P.O. Box 487
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 2R7
Phone: (902) 424-5627
Fax: (902) 424-7983
hppmin@gov.ns.ca
Constituency Office:
3115 Veith Street
Halifax, NS
B3K 3G9
Phone: (902) 455-2926
Fax: (902) 455-3929
mmacdonald@navnet.net
Email text sent October 30, 2009 to Premier Dexter and to Minister MacDonald.
The health care system is failing the very people it is in place to help, those who suffer from physical and mental illnesses. Recently the staff at the Aberdeen Hospital in Pictou, Nova Scotia failed to protect and provide a safe environment to a 69 year old man suffering from Alzheimer's and recovering from a heart attack. He spent four days in a storage room, had unexplained bruises on his body, and was bullied and assaulted while a patent at the hospital. A commissionaire at the hospital is awaiting trial on charges relating to one of these instances. If you are unfamiliar with the circumstances in this case please read the story at www.ngnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=296985&sc=49.
This is one example of the system failing miserably. As a concerned Nova Scotian I would like to know how this happened and what is and will be done to prevent a repeat of these events. I am sure there are ongoing studies which may or may not have any effect. However I would like the following questions answered now.
1. What is your government doing to ensure that all staff and representatives of the Regional Health Care Authorities, hospital staff members from CEOs to janitors to RNs to doctors to commissionaires and everyone in between, have the skills, abilities, training and attitudes necessary to provide care in a safe and non-threatening atmosphere?
2. What is being done to ensure that all hospital and health personnel coming in contact with patients, especially those with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, are trained in dealing with patients that can become easily agitated?
3. Have all non-qualified staff been removed from having direct contact with patients? If this has not already happened please advise what you are doing to have this put in place?
Your attention and response to this email would be appreciated.
Thank you.
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