When Sian Parry害羞草研究所檚 father Wyn Parry was admitted to Cariboo Memorial Hospital in January, she expected it to be like the times he害羞草研究所檇 been there before.
害羞草研究所淗e was a 害羞草研究所榝requent flyer害羞草研究所� in the hospital,害羞草研究所� said Sian, adding each time after a hospital stay, her father had rebounded for two to three months.
During his previous stays, they had no issues with the care he received.
害羞草研究所淓ventually we knew we were going to lose my dad,害羞草研究所� she said, but this time, the stay at the hospital was different, including his discharge, only days before his death.
Wyn was admitted to the hospital this time with pneumonia and had stage four kidney failure, but had until then, been able to do everything himself.
The 85-year-old was also legally blind, but could feed himself once he was shown the food and utensils were put in his hands.
害羞草研究所淗e fought to the end to be independent,害羞草研究所� said his wife Pam Parry.
Despite being somewhat capable though, Sian said her father did not receive adequate care in his final stay at the hospital, and she lost faith in the system her father Wyn so strongly believed in, after his career as a male nurse for nearly four decades.
害羞草研究所淗e still believed in a system that let him down,害羞草研究所� said Sian.
Though he was blind and weak and his movements were slow due to his failing kidneys, Sian said her dad害羞草研究所檚 mind was sharp, yet she saw him decline during his nearly three week stay in the hospital.
害羞草研究所淭he things he was subjected to were just horrible,害羞草研究所� said Sian.
She described arriving to visit and finding her father in his own feces, or left with his food tray out of reach and him not aware it was there.
Sian and Pam said Wyn lost 34 pounds during his last stay in the hospital, even though Sian and her mom Pam were going every day.
Sian said she asked the nurses to write on his board he was blind so staff would know he needed help to find his food so he could eat.
Despite the challenges, initially, Sian said the family tried to make do and not to complain.
害羞草研究所淢y dad was the easiest going person,害羞草研究所� she said.
But Sian said she and her mom continued arriving to new concerns.
They would find garbage cans with dirty human diapers placed right next to her dad害羞草研究所檚 bed.
He was having nose bleeds due to blood thinners, leaving his bedding and clothing spotted with blood.
害羞草研究所淭he final straw for me was the blood in the oxygen mask,害羞草研究所� said Sian, who arrived to find her father with blood all over his face.
In addition, Sian said her father asked for a shower throughout his stay as he was a fastidious man about personal hygiene.
Her father only received one shower, until the day he was discharged, when he finally received a second shower.
But Sian and Pam said they were not told anything other than 害羞草研究所渉e害羞草研究所檚 good to go害羞草研究所� when Pam arrived the morning he was discharged with no notice, despite Pam seeking out the doctor and asking if there were any instructions for his release.
Two days later, they said they called paramedics when her father worsened once again.
When they arrived, the paramedics reportedly told them Wyn may not last much longer and transporting him to the hospital may not be good either. Wyn also begged not to go back to the hospital, which Sian attributed to the conditions during his final stay.
Surprised Wyn was in his final stages, the two women said when they asked for palliative care support to help keep Wyn comfortable, they were told this was not available to them because there was no directive from a physician.
Wyn Parry died at home on Family Day, Feb. 19, at 6:20 a.m.
When the ambulance arrived to take Wyn害羞草研究所檚 body away, there was yet one more frustration for the family.
Without a family physician or a coroner to sign the death certificate, the ambulance took the body to the morgue, where Wyn害羞草研究所檚 remains sat at the hospital.
Sian said they had to wait four days to finally have his remains released to the funeral home. 害羞草研究所淭hat is the last place my dad wanted to be,害羞草研究所� said Sian, with tears in her eyes.
害羞草研究所淲hen your heart is aching, it would be nice if things went smoother,害羞草研究所� she said of this final challenge.
Karen Cooper, executive director, clinical operations, Cariboo/South Cariboo for Interior Health, said quality of care is a priority at Cariboo Memorial Hospital and Interior Health, and they welcome the opportunity to work with the family to address their concerns.
害羞草研究所淔irst and foremost, I want to extend my condolences to this family at the passing of their loved one,害羞草研究所� said Cooper.
害羞草研究所淲e recognize this is a difficult and stressful time for them, and we appreciate them bringing their concerns to our attention.害羞草研究所�
Cooper went on to note how about 80 per cent of the permanent positions for the inpatient unit at Cariboo Memorial Hospital are currently filled.
She said this is similar to other regional facilities as Interior Health is working on targeted recruitment for Williams Lake.
This story comes only shortly after a similar story was brought to light in March in the B.C. legislature by Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson, who shared the story of the late Lee Butler.
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Butler also faced similar challenges according to his family.
His daughter Sheila Butler reported coming to visit him every day and at one point finding him trying to hold himself up out of his own waste.
Both Butler and Sian Parry said they wanted to bring their concerns to light because while their fathers were in the hospital, they were able to be there helping them, but many other patients did not have this support.
Patients and their family members can email pcqo@interiorhealth.ca or call 1-877-442-2001 to submit their concerns to the Patient Care Quality Office for formal review.
Overnight Monday, April 29, 2024, the emergency department was closed for the second time in recent months at CMH due to unavailability of nurses.
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