By Andru McCracken
The Rocky Mountain Goat News has been working on a follow up on a distressing account from Dale Felton about his wife’s medical treatment when she experienced a stroke.
In August, Felton wrote a letter to this newspaper that the response to his wife’s stroke was slow and disorganized.
“We waited around for a long time, but there was not a doctor on call to come and see her,” said Felton.
He believes she could have received a clot-busting shot that could have helped reduce the impact of the stroke. Northern Health has said they are unable to comment on or discuss individual patient circumstances for privacy reasons.
After waiting in Valemount, Felton said they were sent to McBride, with the same result:
“There was no doctor on call to see her and give her a shot,” reported Felton. “Then they send us on our way to Prince George.”
Felton said there was confusion and a delay about which ambulance to take her.
“By the time we got to Prince George, the window to receive the clot-busting shot was closed. It was too dangerous by then to give it to her,” said Felton. “What kind of system do we have in this town that could let that happen? Where were the doctors on call? Did they even get called? Did they not respond to the call?”
Eryn Collins, Regional Manager, Public Affairs & Media Relations said that while she could not comment on the specific case, doctor coverage is and has been solid.
“I can share that the Robson Valley has had (and continues to have) physician-on-call coverage on a continuous basis; there have been no gaps in that coverage,” said Collins.
Collins said that a complaint to local administration or the Northern Health’s Patient Care Quality Office would be followed up on with the individuals concerned.
Felton says they deserve answers.
