Dear Editor
Recently, I was in the Battlefords Union Hospital emergency room. I noticed many patients that were waiting in the emergency room were not truly there for an emergency. The emergency room should not be used for minor problems.
People should not complain when it takes four hours to be seen when it is not an emergency. The doctors and nurses must want to pull their hair out at times.
I was admitted to Third North and found the nursing staff to be excellent. They were always friendly and prompt when I needed help. People who are in there who need long-term care shouldn't have to rely on the nurses so much. Their family should hire someone to look after them, because the nurses can't be with those patients all of the time.
The nurses are run off their feet trying to keep up with people who shouldn't be in a hospital setting. I was in a room with someone who was constantly crawling out of bed despite the rails being up and the patient being told to stay in bed.
The nurses cannot be in that room 24 hours a day to prevent this patient from falling and hurting themselves.
I have heard many people complain about the care received while in hospital. Maybe these people should check their attitudes and ego at home and realize all the nurses do for the patients. The nursing staff is working hard and can only do so much at once. I
have been in the hospital several times and have received excellent care. I would like to give the emergency room staff and the nurses on Third North a big bouquet and a big thank you.
Cameron Fitch
Glaslyn
