A New Brunswick woman is demanding answers after her 88-year-old mother, who's in hospital awaiting a nursing home bed, was moved into a cramped room filled with supplies.
The health authority, meanwhile, acknowledges that it must use what it calls "non-traditional care spaces" to care for its hospitalized patients.
Karen Totten says she went to visit her mother Irene MacNeill at the Saint John Regional Hospital Thursday morning, only to discover somebody else in her place.
Fearing the worst, Totten rushed to the nurses station. "I was like, 'Oh my God, what happened to my mother? Where is she? Nobody called me,'" she said.
"They said, 'Oh, we had to move her because this person came up from emerge' … and they took me over to where she was — and it was the friggin' supply room."
Totten was shocked, angry and hurt.
"When you're deaf and you're blind and you can't walk, you need better care than that."
Her mother had no bell if she needed to call for help and her bed wasn't plugged in, so she couldn't even sit up to eat or drink, she said.
"I mean, I know my mother's old. I get it, and I know that her life is short. But if she would have died in that room, I don't know what I would have done because they couldn't have got in there to do anything to help her."
The family's story sheds light on a report this week that the wait list for nursing homes in New Brunswick has hit a record high of 833, and that nearly 500 of those people are in hospital beds.
Facebook post elicits 'heartbreaking,' 'horrible' stories
Out of frustration, Totten posted about her experience on social media, including photographs that show her mother in her bed, dwarfed by shelving units stacked with clutters of various medical supplies and flannel sheets.
She also posted a short video of the scene.
Totten said her father, John MacNeill, 90, cried when he saw his wife of 65 years in a storage closet.
He cried all the way home. "Not out loud. I just looked over and he had tears running down his face," she said, fighting back tears.
"I feel like I'm not taking care of her, you know? I feel like the whole system let them down."
Based on the comments her Facebook post received, she's not alone, she said. She described the stories as "heartbreaking" and "horrible."
Among them: "I went back and begged. I begged multiple times before being seen by a doctor. My [five]-year-old ended up needing emergency throat surgery. What if I had sat there like I was told?"
"My mother was given a blood transfusion in the hallway. She was also told to use a bedpan should she need to use the washroom while in the hallway," read another.
Hospitals may use 'non-traditional care spaces'
Totten doesn't know how long her mother was in the storage room and says the nurses, who were apologetic and seemed embarrassed, moved her to a regular room later that day.
But she says this is bigger than just her situation. She has contacted Horizon's patient advocate, the officer of the seniors' advocate and written to several government officials, including Health Minister Bruce Fitch.
"There's people in big-paying jobs and they need to fix this and they're not. We have people in our government that are supposed to be helping and they're not. Like, what are they doing?"
CBC requested an interview with Horizon Health Network, which oversees the Saint John hospital.
In an emailed statement, Greg Doiron, vice-president of clinical operations for the network, said he could not comment on a specific case.
But "in situations where our hospitals are at or overcapacity, Horizon may utilize non-traditional care spaces in order to ensure all patients can be treated and safely cared for," he said.
Greg
Doiron, vice-president of clinical operations for Horizon, did not say
how often 'non-tradition care spaces' are used or what steps the
regional health authority is taking to address overcrowding. (Government of New Brunswick/Zoom)
"Although not ideal, this is a measure hospitals commonly use in instances where capacity is limited," Doiron said.
Patients or families with concerns over the care being provided are encouraged to contact Horizon's patient representative services, he added.
Earlier this week, during a media briefing on the triple threat of the flu, respiratory syncytial virus, referred to as RSV, and COVID-19, Doiron said Horizon hospitals are all reporting occupancy rates above 95 per cent. Emergency departments are seeing a high number of patients presenting with severe respiratory illness symptoms, he said.
Province understands the 'difficulties and challenges' with long waits
The Department of Health did not respond to a request for comment about what specifically it's doing to get seniors like MacNeill, who are in hospital awaiting a nursing home bed, into long-term care homes.
The number of New Brunswick seniors waiting to get into a nursing home has reached a record high of 833 as of November, according to Cecile Cassista, executive director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents' Rights. Of those, 483 are in hospital.
That's up from 782 and 455 in October, figures from the Department of Social Development show.
The Department of Social Development "understands the difficulties and challenges with long wait times and is dedicated to working with multiple partners to explore all solutions, like recruitment at the national and international levels," said spokesperson Rebecca Howland.
Karen
Totten says she doesn't know how long her mother was in the supply room
because she wasn't notified by staff, but says she never should have
been put in there. If her mother had to be moved, Totten contends a
common area down the hall would have been a more appropriate choice. (Karen Totten/Facebook)
She noted the department added staff to hospital discharge teams earlier this year. "They help find alternate solutions, when available, including interim placements and safe home support options for individuals waiting for placement in long-term care."
Although Cassista suggested there are beds available in other facilities, such as special care homes, Howland said many of the people in hospital awaiting placements, referred to as alternative level of care (ALC) patients, "require a high level of care, which can only be accessible in facilities such as nursing homes."
Howland said the wait list is not static. About 150 new residents access nursing home beds in New Brunswick every month.
She acknowledged the need for nursing home beds continues to grow, however, and said the department is actively working to open more.
'Working on it' doesn't cut it
Totten says her mother has been in hospital since mid-September, when she fell and broke her arm and bruised her leg, from her hip to her ankle.
Prior to that, she was living in an apartment with her husband in their son's home, just a few minutes away from Totten, with home care support.
MacNeill was medically discharged on Oct. 18 but has nowhere to go.
"Is this what my parents worked their whole lives for? Is this why we pay so much in health care taxes?" Totten asks the politicians in her letter.
These are human beings with real lives and families.
- Karen Totten, daughter of hospital patient
She says she can't understand why New Brunswick doesn't have enough beds for its elderly to "live and die peacefully."
She questions why measures aren't in place, and why the N.B. government isn't spending some of the forecasted $774.4-million surplus to solve the problem.
"'We are working on it,' just does not cut it anymore. These are human beings with real lives and families. Real people dying in hallways all over New Brunswick hospitals waiting to be seen, assessed, cared for," she wrote.
Totten ends her letter by urging anyone with parents or grandparents at home over the holidays to "hug them a little tighter and voice your I love yous."
"We're all one bad fall away from losing a senior to this failing system."
They are seeking to recruit foreign nurses, and medical professionals, while failing to invest in higher education, and training to school our own citizens to fill this vacancy.
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https://www.cbc.ca › news › canada › new-brunswick
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N.B.'s plan to get more hospital patients into long-term care long overdue, say operators
Province says plan is aimed at easing pressure on hospitals
JANUARY 18, 2018 2:28 PM EST
They don't want to spend any money on the problem of space (& staffing), they hope that the patients die, problem solved.
Anger greets Tory health plan
CBC News · Posted: Jun 10, 2004 10:59 AM AT
New Brunswick is losing the race to keep up with aging population
Mia Urquhart · CBC News · Posted: Feb 23, 2021 5:30 PM AT
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/hospital-long-term-care-new-brunswick-1.6319331
N.B.'s plan to get more hospital patients into long-term care long overdue, say operators
Province says plan is aimed at easing pressure on hospitals
Special care home operators say a plan by the province to move hospital patients into long-term care facilities faster is a welcome move, but long overdue.
The government announced recently that it would work with long-term care homes to create emergency care beds for hospital patients currently waiting to be placed in a home.
The province says it's part of efforts to alleviate pressure on the health-care system at a time when New Brunswick is seeing a record level of hospitalizations due to COVID-19.
In a news release at the time, the province said emergency long-term care beds will be approved by the Department of Social Development using vacant beds in long-term care — primarily special care — facilities in the province.
The beds will provide alternate placements for patients who are waiting in hospitals until a bed in their preferred location becomes available, the release said.
"The Department of Social Development will work with long-term care home operators to ensure the needs of clients are met. Residents occupying emergency long-term care beds will remain on wait lists for the facility of their choice."
Jan Seely, president of the New Brunswick Special Care Home Association, said she welcomes the initiative, but added it should have been done a long time ago.
Jan
Seely, president of the New Brunswick Special Care Home Association,
said the initiative by the province is welcome but long overdue. (Jericho Knopp)
Seely said for years, the province has unfairly funded special care beds, leading to patients being disproportionately directed to nursing homes, which offer more intensive and clinical care to residents.
Seely said as part of the new plan, the province will be offering more funding for certain special care beds, allowing more special care homes to take on clients who would have previously been directed to nursing homes.
"We have 7,000 [special care] beds in this province that are approved and licensed, and we have probably 800 of them that are vacant and we are a viable solution for at least 40 or 50 per cent of the people that are waiting in hospitals," Seely said.
"So COVID, as much as it has brought difficulty to everyone across the world, it has brought to the forefront and highlighted the gaps and the long overdue problems that we've had in our system."
CBC News asked the Department of Social Development how the initiative will work.
In an email, spokesperson Rebecca Howland said there are currently more than 600 patients in hospitals across the province waiting to be moved to a long-term care home.
She said it is still too early to know how many emergency beds the province will be able to create, but the department is working with partners to assess the availability of beds and the number of placements that can be made in coming weeks.
"For now, we are focusing on determining which facilities and beds are able to safely accommodate prospective transfers from hospital so we can respond when necessary," she said.
Howland said emergency long-term care beds are intended as a short-term measure for patients that are waiting in hospitals until a bed in their preferred location becomes available.
The emergency placements will offer a home-like alternative to people while they are waiting for their preferred home.
"We are asking people to consider this a better alternative than waiting in a hospital bed, and it should be noted this decision will not impact their wait time for a placement in their preferred home," she said.
"We are aware many facilities are struggling with the same issues the hospitals have related to staffing and cannot support additional clients at this time. We will work with the operators who do feel they have capacity to admit."
Howland said homes that have active COVID-19 responses or outbreaks will not be considered for emergency beds until they are cleared by Public Health.
Eileen MacGibbon, vice-president of clinical services for Horizon Health Network, in an email statement said persons waiting to be moved to long-term care homes make up about a quarter of all their patients in hospital.
Thomas Lizotte, spokesperson for Vitalité Health Network, said that figure is about 29 per cent across the health network's hospitals.
And I'm thankful for that but yes people have suffered unintended consequences for waiting too long to be discharged properly.
- Amy McNair, owner of McNair Manor
Amy McNair, owner and operator of McNair Manor in Moncton, also welcomes the province's initiative.
She said she has taken on additional residents since the province's new push to move patients out of hospitals and into long-term care homes.
She said she's fully staffed and is providing skilled nursing services she already had. The only difference now is the province is providing "the appropriate subsidy so that a person in need of my level of care can access it equitably."
"I think a lot of clients have waited unnecessarily long periods of time waiting in hospital or in unsafe situations at home and it took the global pandemic to move the idea forward of matching the cost of care to the service.
"And I'm thankful for that, but yes, people have suffered unintended consequences for waiting too long to be discharged properly."
Comments
Auditor general says N.B. hasn't done nearly enough to meet need for nursing home beds
New Brunswick is losing the race to keep up with aging population
New Brunswick's auditor general says the province has failed to address the increased demand for nursing homes.
Kim Adair-MacPherson outlined her concerns Tuesday morning when she presented her report to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
"My biggest concern is the lack of progress since we last did work on this area back in 2016," she told reporters after her report.
And ready or not, she said, the province's "aging demographic is going to continue and double in New Brunswick."
She told the committee that the number of seniors over the age of 75 would double by 2036 — something she warned the government about in her last report.
"I was disappointed to find significant delays in the implementation of nursing home plans since our 2016 report," she said.
This
graph from the auditor general shows about half of all seniors on the
waiting list for a nursing home are waiting in a hospital. (Government of New Brunswick)
"In my view, the province is failing to address the nursing home capacity demand. The province is not ready for the increase in seniors requiring placement in a residential facility."
Although some beds have been added in the last few years, Adair-MacPherson said it's nowhere near enough. She said there continues to be long wait time for nursing home placements, which is causing added pressure and costs for hospitals, since about half of those seniors are waiting in hospitals.
Adair-MacPherson was also critical in her report of the province's accountability.
She called out the Department of Social Development on the accuracy of its status report on recommendations she made in 2016.
Adair-MacPherson drew attention to three recommendations the department reported were "implemented."
"But when we went in to examine the evidence to determine whether or not they had been implemented, we found something quite different … two have not been implemented and one has been partially implemented."
Failing to implement nursing home plans and obtain the needed services for seniors will result in a crisis.
- Kim Adair-MacPherson
She told the standing committee on public accounts that "this is a concern."
After presenting her report, Adair-MacPherson said it's now up to the committee to hold the government to account.
Social Development Minister Bruce Fitch said 2036 is a long way off, but "we're doing everything we can do today to answer the needs of the present and future 75-year-olds plus."
He said his department plans to add another 600 nursing home beds over the next five years. It's also looking at a number of things "to answer those alarm bells that have been rung," including taking "advantage of the special care home beds that may be available," and working with other groups to try to keep seniors in their homes longer.
The executive director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents' Rights said she was angry when she heard today's report from the Auditor General.
"This is alarming," said Cecile Cassista.
Cecile
Cassista of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents'
Rights says the province's lack of progress on a nursing home strategy
is "alarming." (Wayne Chase Photography)
"Governments day after day — and it's not just one government, it's all of them — basically, they make all these promises, but they don't have a vision to move the senior care forward."
Cassista said there's been no progress since the Auditor General's last report in 2016.
She said there were 72 on waiting lists in 2000 and now it's 817.
"Nothing has changed. And the longer you languish in a hospital bed, you are depriving people opportunities to have their surgery, their other care, and you're also depriving these seniors from having a quality of life."
Long-term strategy needed
Adair-MacPherson said that while the Department of Social Development created a 10-year aging strategy in consultation with the Department of Health, it failed to develop an appropriate implementation plan.
"Failing to implement nursing home plans and obtain the needed services for seniors will result in a crisis," she said.
"A severe shortage of available placements will occur. Growing pressure on hospitals and related costs, and inadequate care for a growing number of vulnerable seniors will result."
That, too, was mentioned in 2016, Adair-MacPherson reminded the committee. She said the plan isn't just about adding more beds. It should also include a comprehensive plan to address the needs of the increasing seniors population.
While the department did develop two five-year plans — one from 2011-2016 and one from 2018-2023 — Adair-MacPherson said there hasn't been enough progress on either one of them.
"Essentially," she said, "the province is failing to address nursing home capacity demand."
PPP vs. traditional model
She also said the province still hasn't done a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether public-private partnerships are more economical than the traditional non-profit model.
It surfaced in her 2016 report as a recommendation after the province entered into a public-private partnership in 2008 to open 216 new nursing home beds.
"That's a recommendation that we made quite some time ago and it has not yet been done," she said, even though the department reported that it was complete.
Fitch said that analysis has been done, although maybe "not in the way the A.G. wanted it done."
This slide from the auditor general's report shows how well the
government has delivered on nursing home beds. (Government of New
Brunswick)
And the answers may not be as clear as the Auditor General may have wanted either. She wants to know which approach is more efficient.
Fitch said it depends.
He said there are a lot of factors to consider and it's not as easy as picking one over the other without doing an analysis each time.
"The scrutiny was done," said Fitch. "The A.G. didn't like the form that was put in. So we're saying, 'OK, if we need to formalize that some and put it into a form that, you know, satisfies the A.G., we're more than happy to do that."
Some of the Auditor General's other findings, include:
-
Millions of dollars in additional costs every year due to individuals waiting in hospital for a nursing home bed
-
Percentage of acute care hospital days used by patients awaiting alternate care is higher than national average
-
Only 428 of 704 new memory care beds under 2011-2016 plan completed
-
Significant delays and potential additional costs in relation to Miramichi nursing homes. After 10 years and $11 million spent on repairs and financial assistance, two homes replaced in Miramichi, with 28 additional beds
-
2018-2023 Nursing Home Plan behind in adding new beds by at least two years
-
Significant ongoing delays — system is failing to address nursing home capacity demand
-
No targets to address services to growing numbers of seniors
-
No implementation plan for Aging Strategy
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Shift
Comments
Anger greets Tory health plan
CBC News · Posted: Jun 10, 2004 10:59 AM AT
Anger greets Tory health plan
The Lord government will close several hospitals and eliminate 298 beds across New Brunswick to save money.
Health Minister Elvy Robichaud tabled his long-awaited health estimates in the legislature Wednesday morning, while angry protesters waved signs and shouted slogans on the steps outside.
Robichaud says all areas of the province will be asked to share the pain. "There will be bed reductions throughout each and every regional health authority of New Brunswick. And I'm trying to do this as equitably to all regions as possible, so everybody will contribute."
Northern New Brunswick will shoulder the worst of the cuts. Dalhousie's 44-bed hospital will close and so will St. Quentin's 12-bed facility. Caraquet will also lose its 39-bed hospital.
| Provincial health plan 2004-2008: Hospital Beds by Region by Facility |
 |
| Click on image to view interactive map (  Links will open in a new window) |
Minto will lose its nine remaining beds at the Queen's North Health Complex.
Grand Falls will lose almost half its hospital, with 15 of 35 beds shut down.
Hospitals in Sussex and St. Stephen are each losing about one-third of their beds.
Premier Bernard Lord says health care is about more than hospital beds. "Simply keeping the beds, doing what would be politically easy, would be the wrong thing to do for health care and for the taxpayers of New Brunswick. And that's why we've made the very clear decision to reduce the number of beds."
Each of Moncton's two hospitals is losing 28 beds. Twenty-four beds are being cut in Saint John, and Fredericton loses 16.
The bed closures, along with consolidation of services and layoffs of managers and workers within the health department are expected to save $46 million.
That money will be used to do things such as improve childhood vaccinations and establish a methadone program for drug addicts. The government is also planning to hire 70 more doctors.
But that did not mollify approximately 2,000 Miramichi area residents who gathered outside the legislature in Fredericton to protest 27 bed closures at their regional hospital.
From June 8, 2004: Miramichiers prepare to defend their hospital
St. Stephen's hospital will lose 19 beds.
St. Stephen art teacher Jim Thornton helped collect 6,000 signatures on a petition to save the hospital from cuts. Thornton's mother spent her last few months there when she had cancer.
He says the local hospital staff play a vital role in the community. On Tuesday, he says a local surgeon and about 20 hospital staff pedalled a large tandem bike for charity. "I wondered ... how many of those staff will not have jobs with these bed closures? So it really is disheartening."
Hospital chief of staff Dr. David Green will have tell workers about layoffs. He says the bed closures will probably mean 10 nurses will be laid off, and even more supporting staff.
He says patients will feel the impact, especially the sickest, who require a hospital stay before and after surgery.
"Unless they are exceptionally fortunate and there is a vacant bed, which is not likely, they are going to have to be referred to other people, other specialists, in other centres. Which means of course, travel, and longer waits," Green says.
Green says he doubts very many doctors will want to practice in the area once they hear of the cuts.
Most of the hospital beds are to be closed as soon as possible, but the government hasn't set a firm date.
Re: NB Nursing home wait list hits record high and is now holding up 500 hospital beds
David Amos<david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> | Fri, Dec 16, 2022 at 12:24 PM |
| To: "bruce.fitch" <bruce.fitch@gnb.ca>, "Jean-Yves.Duclos" <Jean-Yves.Duclos@parl.gc.ca>, premier <premier@ontario.ca>, PREMIER <PREMIER@gov.ns.ca>, premier <premier@gov.ab.ca>, Office of the Premier <scott.moe@gov.sk.ca>, premier <premier@leg.gov.mb.ca>, premier <premier@gov.bc.ca>, premier <premier@gov.pe.ca>, premier <premier@gov.nt.ca>, premier <premier@gov.yk.ca>, premier <premier@gov.nl.ca>, CDonovan@shannex.com, lizkramer@hotmail.com, bdraper@shannex.com, info@shannex.com, Trevor.Holder@gnb.ca, jean-claude.d'amours@gnb.ca, alexandre.silberman@cbc.ca, gdrapeau@shannex.com, "Dorothy.Shephard" <Dorothy.Shephard@gnb.ca>, laura.lyall@bellmedia.ca, "robert.gauvin" <robert.gauvin@gnb.ca>, coalitionnb@gmail.com, "Wayne.Long" <Wayne.Long@parl.gc.ca>, "rob.moore" <rob.moore@parl.gc.ca>, "John.Williamson" <John.Williamson@parl.gc.ca>, "Dominic.Cardy" <Dominic.Cardy@gnb.ca>, "Mitton, Megan (LEG)" <megan.mitton@gnb.ca>, info@nbanh.com, "jagmeet.singh" <jagmeet.singh@parl.gc.ca>, pm <pm@pm.gc.ca>, "Katie.Telford" <Katie.Telford@pmo-cpm.gc.ca>, "pierre.poilievre" <pierre.poilievre@parl.gc.ca>, "jake.stewart" <jake.stewart@parl.gc.ca>, "robert.mckee" <robert.mckee@gnb.ca>, "Richard.Bragdon" <Richard.Bragdon@parl.gc.ca>, premier <premier@gnb.ca>, "kris.austin" <kris.austin@gnb.ca> | |
| Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>, "Hamish.Wright" <Hamish.Wright@gnb.ca>, "john.green" <john.green@gnb.ca>, "hugh.flemming" <hugh.flemming@gnb.ca>, "blaine.higgs" <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca> | |
MORE Deja Vu or What??? https://davidraymondamos3. | |
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2022 14:33:55 -0400
Subject: Re: NB Nursing home wait list hits record high and is now
holding up 500 hospital beds
To: Alyson Sheffar <asheffar@shannex.com>
Nope
On 12/16/22, Alyson Sheffar <asheffar@shannex.com> wrote:
> Hi David,
>
> I am pretty sure you have accidently added me to this email distribution
> list in error.
>
> Thanks
>
> Alyson Sheffar
> Business Manager
>
> Parkland In the Valley/Parkland Saint John
> 19 Shannex Drive, Quispamsis, NB E2E 0M4
> P: 506-848-3174 C:506-343-4445 F: 506-849-7275
> experienceparkland.com
> Follow us on Facebook!
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
> Sent: December 16, 2022 12:24 PM
> To: bruce.fitch <bruce.fitch@gnb.ca>; Jean-Yves.Duclos
> <Jean-Yves.Duclos@parl.gc.ca>; premier <premier@ontario.ca>; PREMIER
> <PREMIER@gov.ns.ca>; premier <premier@gov.ab.ca>; Office of the Premier
> <scott.moe@gov.sk.ca>; premier <premier@leg.gov.mb.ca>; premier
> <premier@gov.bc.ca>; premier <premier@gov.pe.ca>; premier
> <premier@gov.nt.ca>; premier <premier@gov.yk.ca>; premier
> <premier@gov.nl.ca>; CDonovan@shannex.com; lizkramer@hotmail.com; Alyson
> Sheffar <asheffar@shannex.com>; info <info@shannex.com>;
> Trevor.Holder@gnb.ca; jean-claude.d'amours@gnb.ca;
> alexandre.silberman@cbc.ca; gdrapeau@shannex.com; Dorothy.Shephard
> <Dorothy.Shephard@gnb.ca>; laura.lyall@bellmedia.ca; robert.gauvin
> <robert.gauvin@gnb.ca>; coalitionnb@gmail.com; Wayne.Long
> <Wayne.Long@parl.gc.ca>; rob.moore <rob.moore@parl.gc.ca>; John.Williamson
> <John.Williamson@parl.gc.ca>; Dominic.Cardy <Dominic.Cardy@gnb.ca>; Mitton,
> Megan (LEG) <megan.mitton@gnb.ca>; info@nbanh.com; jagmeet.singh
> <jagmeet.singh@parl.gc.ca>; pm <pm@pm.gc.ca>; Katie.Telford
> <Katie.Telford@pmo-cpm.gc.ca>; pierre.poilievre
> <pierre.poilievre@parl.gc.ca>; jake.stewart <jake.stewart@parl.gc.ca>;
> robert.mckee <robert.mckee@gnb.ca>; Richard.Bragdon
> <Richard.Bragdon@parl.gc.ca>; premier <premier@gnb.ca>; kris.austin
> <kris.austin@gnb.ca>
> Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>; Hamish.Wright
> <Hamish.Wright@gnb.ca>; john.green <john.green@gnb.ca>; hugh.flemming
> <hugh.flemming@gnb.ca>; blaine.higgs <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>
> Subject: Re: NB Nursing home wait list hits record high and is now holding
> up 500 hospital beds
>
> CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not
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> MORE Deja Vu or What???
Nursing home wait list hits record high — and is now holding up 500 hospital beds
New data comes as hospitals face surge of flu, RSV and COVID-19 cases
Of
the 833 seniors waiting to get into a nursing home as of November, the
Moncton region has the largest share, at 245, 117 of whom are in
hospital, followed by the Saint John region, with 153, 101 of whom are
in hospital, according to the Department of Social Development. (Shutterstock)Cecile Cassista, executive director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents' Rights, said 833 people are on the waitlist as of November. Of those, approximately 483 are in hospital
That's up from 782 and 455 in October, according to data from the Department of Social Development.
Cassista described the numbers as "astounding" and "very upsetting."
They're the highest they've been since she started tracking them in 2006-07, she said.
"I'm really… frustrated because the government is not taking the responsible role to make sure that our most vulnerable seniors are protected. And it's just like they've been forgotten."
The latest statistics come as the triple threat of respiratory illnesses — the flu, respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV, and COVID-19 — increases the strain on the hospital system.
Created emergency care beds during COVID surge
In January, during a surge of COVID-19 Omicron hospitalizations, the Department of Social Development announced it would work with long-term care home operators to create emergency care beds for people waiting in hospital for placements in a bid to reduce pressure on the health-care system.
The beds, primarily in special care homes, would provide short-term alternate placements for patients until a bed in their preferred location became available, the department said in a news release at the time.
CBC asked both the Department of Social Development and the Department of Health whether they plan to relocate any of the hundreds of seniors waiting in hospital and free up hospital beds for patients with respiratory viruses and other illnesses, but did not receive any response.
At the beginning of the pandemic, the province also introduced an "urgent nursing home placement process" to free up hospital beds occupied by the so-called alternate level of care (ALC) patients. About 65 seniors were transferred to nursing home beds to make way for an anticipated influx of COVID-19 patients.
Space in special care homes
There are 71 licensed nursing homes across New Brunswick that provide 4,953 beds.
But as of Nov. 13, the latest figures available, 276 beds sat vacant due to staff shortages, among various other reasons.
According to Cassista, there are beds available in special care homes — but they're expensive. The beds cost between $5,000 and $6,000 a month, compared to about $3,450 a month.
Cecile
Cassista, executive director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing
Home Residents’ Rights, says seniors languishing in hospital beds while
they wait for a nursing home bed are being 'overlooked,' and the
government must do better. (Submitted by Cecile Cassista)
Cassista said that would cost less than keeping seniors in a hospital bed, which she said costs around $800 to $1,000 a day.
It would also be better for the seniors, whose health can deteriorate while they wait in hospital, she said, which could extend the time they have to remain in hospital.
"Hospital's no place for anyone to languish. It's there for sick people," she said.
The New Brunswick Special Care Home Association did not respond Thursday to a request for an interview about the availability or cost of beds. In January, president Jan Seely told CBC about 800 of the province's 7,000 special care beds were vacant.
Failed to address increased demand
Last year, then-auditor general Kim Adair-MacPherson said the government had failed to address the increased demand for nursing homes. In her report, she cited July 2020 statistics. At that time, 773 seniors were waiting for a nursing home placement. Of those, 365 were waiting in hospital.
The number of seniors over the age of 75 will double by 2036, warned Adair-MacPherson.
"The province is not ready for the increase in seniors requiring placement in a residential facility," she said.
This
graph from the auditor general's report in February 2021 shows about
half of all seniors on the waiting list for a nursing home are waiting
in a hospital. (Government of New Brunswick)
Three weeks ago, the province announced plans to build four 60-bed nursing homes in Bathurst, Bouctouche, Moncton and Oromocto. It will be a couple of years before they open, said Social Development Minister Dorothy Shephard.
The four homes are part of the government's 2018-2023 Nursing Home Plan to build 10 homes, adding about 600 beds.
Cassista called the plan to build new homes "ludicrous."
"I don't know who's going to staff them."
There were nearly 400 job vacancies in the sector, as of August.
Focus on recruitment
Instead, she thinks the government should focus on a better recruitment strategy and said this could include loosening accreditation requirements for trained and qualified immigrants.
"Get them working alongside other workers. I mean, these are smart people that [are] coming here. They're well-educated. … We should put them in the profession that they've actually studied for," she said.
The Department of Social Development is working with partners, such as the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes, the regional health authorities, and Department of Health to "explore several solutions to the challenges the long-term care sector has encountered," spokesperson Rebecca Howland said in an emailed statement.
Among the initiatives, the department is working to ensure "active representation" at multiple job fairs online and in person, at national and international levels, she said.
Health-care workers in the hospital system are caring for hundreds of seniors awaiting nursing home beds. (Craig Chivers/CBC News)
Cassista would also like to see the assessment process streamlined. As it stands, it can take months, she said.
She maintains seniors would be better served under the Department of Health, as they were prior to 2000, and as they are in other provinces. The Department of Social Development is "so huge and so complex" she said, that seniors are "getting lost in the system."
She also called for more resources for home care.
Howland said Social Development added staff to discharge teams within hospitals earlier this year to assist with the process of moving seniors waiting in hospitals to nursing homes.
"As all of our efforts continue, the department will work closely with facility operators to ensure New Brunswickers receive the best care and support possible," she said.
"Although the Department of Social Development is focused on responding to the growing aging population in the coming years, we also want to ensure the needs of New Brunswick's most vulnerable are met now."
David Amos
Oh My My
David Amos
"COVID-19 outbreaks stretch resources at nursing homes"
Methinks the last comment yesterday was the best N'esy Pas?
Chance Boudreaux asked
That said on a lighter note....
Methinks its rather ironic that something so rare is called "Common Sense" N'esy Pas?
Billy Popamahovilich
Why not just offer assisted suicide ? That's the norm now. 1 in 30 deaths in Canada.
David Amos
Reply to Billy Popamahovilich
How can you be allowed to post such a wicked opinion while my post is blocked???
Reply to Rick Gates
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Hundreds of nursing home beds sit vacant because of staff shortages
Nearly 400 job vacancies, advocate calls for action
That's because there are nearly 400 job vacancies in the sector, hard-hit by the pandemic.
Meanwhile, hundreds of seniors are waiting to be placed in nursing homes; many of them stuck in hospital beds.
That, in turn, limits the number of emergency room patients who can be admitted to hospital — an issue that has raised concerns in recent months after several incidents, including the death of a man waiting for care at Fredericton's Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital ER, and a man being discharged from the same ER just hours after breaking his neck in a motorcycle crash.
The province has announced new nursing homes and plans to add nine in the coming years, a total of 600 more beds.
But it can't adequately staff the ones it has, said Cecile Cassista, executive director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents' Rights.
Cecile
Cassista, executive director, Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home
Residents’ Rights, said the stories of 'neglect' she hears from families
'infuriate' her. (Submitted by Cecile Cassista)
"There's something wrong with this picture," she said.
Cassista has "deep concerns" about the care nursing home residents get, given the staffing shortages.
She has heard accounts from families of seniors being locked in their rooms, with no visiting, stimulation, or outings. Some residents are left in their pyjamas all day and go weeks with no bath, she said.
She is also worried about the strain on the existing staff and the impact on the hospital system.
Cassista is calling on the government to deal with the nursing home staff shortages and to implement uniform rules that would allow family members to visit their loved ones and assist with their care, even during COVID-19 outbreaks. In addition, she wants the government to find more suitable temporary placements, such as special care homes, for the seniors waiting in hospital beds.
"We no longer want lip service. We want action."
'Forgotten generation'
About 275 nursing home beds — about 5.5 per cent of the province's 4,953 beds — were vacant as of the end of July, according to the Department of Social Development.
The majority of vacancies are due to staffing shortages, the department confirmed, although there are other factors, including closures due to COVID outbreaks.
There were 775 seniors waiting to get into nursing homes, as of the end of July, according to Cassista, up from 720 in June.
Of those, 429 were in hospitals, a 12 per cent jump from June's 382—an "outrageous" number, she said, noting it hovered around 70 in the mid-2000s.
Now, the Moncton region, Zone 1, and Saint John region, Zone 2, alone each have more than that, at 103 and 94, respectively, according to figures the coalition obtained from Social Development.
"Four hundred languishing in a hospital bed is not acceptable," said Cassista.
"It just seems that these are the forgotten generation. People are not paying attention, and it's very difficult for the family member[s] to speak out. They're afraid of reprisals."
Filling positions 'a high priority'
Seniors advocate Kelly Lamrock said he is aware of the "trend" of nursing home beds being left vacant due to because of staff shortages.
But he said he could not offer further comment, since he hasn't fully investigated the issue.
Social Development Minister Dorothy Shephard said the number of vacant nursing home beds causes her "great concern," as does the number of seniors waiting in hospital beds, where they're "not getting the optimal care that they deserve."
"We need to get them into nursing homes as quickly as possible for their own benefit, but two, having those beds empty will free up resources at hospitals so that patients can be moved out of the ER into floors."
Social
Development Minister Dorothy Shephard said the province needs to be
'dogged' about recruiting nursing home employees and 'try to create
good, healthy work environments for people to flourish.' (Pat Richard/CBC)
Filling the nursing home staff vacancies "has got to be a high priority" for her department, along with the departments of Health and Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, Shephard said.
She said the province hopes to work with both the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes and the employee union to try to raise staffing levels and make sure all beds are used.
Union 'deeply alarmed' heading into fall
Sharon Teare, president of the New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions, says employers and employees are both doing the best they can with the resources they have. But it's not enough.
"The union is deeply alarmed as to what nursing homes will look like if we don't address with some real incentives to have staffing in place to care for our seniors."
The reality the frontline workers face every day is heartbreaking, said Teare. She cited the example of a worker at a home where each employee takes care of 19 residents.
I'm sure there's not a family member out there who would be OK with their loved one, you know, [receiving] compromised care, because that's where we're at today because of the lack of staffing.
- Sharon Teare, New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions president
"And then she's left to go home and tend to her own family, you know, with no time left to care for herself," she said.
"You cannot provide adequate care if you're not caring for the worker who cares for the seniors."
Difficult working conditions related to staff shortages are causing employees to leave and preventing the nearly 400 permanent, part-time and casual positions from being filled, said Teare.
The
New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions is planning a tour of the
province to meet with its membership to get a realistic picture of
what's happening in the nursing homes, said president Sharon Teare. (CBC)
Workers are exhausted — physically, emotionally and mentally, she said.
"The overall mental health of our workforce is depleted. It has taken an extreme toll. I mean, understanding that as a nursing home worker, you take great honour in being able to care for our most valuable seniors.
"And when you're not able to have the adequate resources, such as staffing, to be able to do that, it most certainly takes a drain because you know you're not able to give them or provide all of what it is that they deserve."
Wages don't reflect the actual work employees do, according to Teare. Some may be doing the work of three people but getting paid the salary of only one, she said. "That's not what I consider fair."
Nurses to kitchen staff needed
Julie Weir, CEO of the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes, says the long-term care industry is struggling to find employees just as other industries are.
"It is a national issue. And we're competing against one another in terms of provinces to be able to bring people in, to be able to fill these positions."
It's not just care positions, such as nurses, she noted, but a wide range of employees, including kitchen staff.
"We've known that the shortage has been coming our way," said Weir, referring to the aging population, more people retiring, more people requiring care and a shrinking pool of working-age people. "We've just never felt it quite as prominently as we are at this time."
The past two years of the pandemic have made it more challenging to replace people who retire, she said, citing COVID-19 travel restrictions as an example.
One step the province took last year was to make it more affordable for New Brunswickers to train to become personal support workers, or PSWs. The Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour announced last August that full tuition fees would be covered.
Nearly 900 people were trained, the department said.
There will be more than 500 personal support worker job openings per year, according to labour market forecasts. (iStock)
A total of 215 WorkingNB clients had their tuition at the college programs offered across the province covered. An additional 677 people were trained on-site by employers, who will be reimbursed by the province.
The union was optimistic when the program was announced, said Teare. "But we didn't see any of those students in the program come to nursing homes."
Instead, they went to work in other fields, such as hospitals and community care, she said.
Teare recently submitted a recommendation to have paid tuition for personal support workers designated solely for nursing homes. Graduate would have to work in a nursing home for a minimum of six months, she said.
"Because I think once you're exposed to the sector, it is very rewarding when you're not overworked."
The need for personal support workers is growing, according to the Labour Department. Labour market forecasts indicate thousands of them will be needed over the next 10 years.
The latest forecasts show there will be more than 500 PSW job openings per year.
'Rowing in the same direction'
The association is working with the government departments to find ways to find PSWs and other employees, said Weir.
"We are working very well together because we need one another through this."
Julie
Weir, CEO of the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes, said
nursing home staff have 'gone above and beyond what is expected of them
or what they anticipated' when they went into the sector to provide the
care residents need. (Submitted by Julie Weir)
Not only are they competing against other provinces, she said, but they are often competing against each other for the workers who do come.
"So we need to have a concerted front and make sure that we're all in the boat rowing in the same direction."
The association is trying to recruit internationally educated nurses from other countries, hoping they will choose to practise in the long-term care sector, for example, but encouraging them to work in whichever sector they want.
It's also holding job fairs across Canada, trying to entice workers to come to New Brunswick, based on the lifestyle and the cost of living.
Teare welcomes the recruitment efforts, but said they don't address the current "critical staffing issues."
"So we're asking for immediate incentives to draw those individuals into the sector — universal policies within the nursing homes. So it's continuity and consistency of application, which is extremely important, as well as bringing in some mental health [programs] to address the impacts that those … currently on the front line are facing."
The union is also working on a profile of the sector to help attract staff and shed light on what Teare called the "lack of resources" the province gives employers to operate their nursing home.
With files from Maeve McFadden
David Amos
Methinks after18 very long years matters have gotten much worse N'esy Pas???
A senior says she ended up in the ER after being denied the COVID treatment Paxlovid
Oral treatment that prevents COVID-related hospitalization, death is not widely used
Patricia Johnston, 72, of Edmonton recently contracted a bad case of COVID-19. She said she sought a prescription for Paxlovid from her doctor to help stave off the worst effects of the disease.
The treatment, which was approved by Health Canada in January, has reduced the incidence of hospitalization and death in clinical trials and real world circumstances.
Paxlovid treatment must be started within five days of the onset of symptoms. Johnston said she asked for a prescription on day three.
Johnston said she was turned down, that she was told she didn't meet Alberta's guidelines for the oral treatment — a pill regimen designed for high-risk patients such as seniors and the immunocompromised, among others.
'I was terrified'
Shortly after she was denied access, she said, her condition took a turn. What started as a bout of the usual symptoms — a sore throat and chest cough — quickly deteriorated into COVID-related gastrointestinal issues.
She said her symptoms were so severe — an agonizing headache and persistent dehydration — that she required immediate medical attention.
"I got very, very sick. I had this terrible headache. I had nausea, dizziness and severe vomiting such that I had to go to the emergency room," Johnston told CBC News. "I was terrified."
Johnston said her COVID ordeal continued after she was discharged. She spent nearly a month feeling unwell, even after she started to test negative.
She said Paxlovid should have been made available to her, a senior, to help make the whole experience less taxing.
"COVID is a brutal, brutal virus to have. I wanted to protect myself," she said.
Johnston said Alberta's Paxlovid guidelines for outpatient use are too restrictive.
And Alberta's criteria are more onerous than those in some other jurisdictions.
Patricia
Johnston, 72, recently came down with a bad case of COVID-19. She was
denied a prescription for Paxlovid, an oral treatment used to prevent
COVID-related hospitalization and death, because she didn't meet
Alberta's guidelines for the drug. (Supplied by Patricia Johnston)
Under Alberta's rules, a patient aged 70 or older like Johnston can access the treatment only if they have COVID and at least two other pre-existing health conditions — such as diabetes, obesity, congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Younger people, the unvaccinated and First Nations have a different set of criteria.
In Ontario, by comparison, any COVID patient over the age of 60 qualifies for a Paxlovid prescription. Younger people in Ontario can also access the treatment if they're immunocompromised or face a high risk of a severe case of COVID.
"I think a decision as to whether or not a patient should get Paxlovid should be between the doctor and their patient. The guidelines should definitely be there but the final decision should be with the physician. The government should not be involved," Johnston said.
"I believe I wouldn't have had to suffer through all that had I had Paxlovid. We can mitigate the disease's effects if we use all the tools that are available."
Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping denied CBC's request for an interview.
Dr.
Zain Chagla was among the first physicians in Canada to start a COVID
treatment clinic. He says Paxlovid should be more widely used for
high-risk COVID-19 patients. (Tina MacKenzie/CBC News)
Dr. Zain Chagla is an infectious diseases expert and a professor of medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton. Chagla was among the first physicians to start a COVID treatment clinic in Canada.
Chagla told CBC News that while COVID-19 is less of an issue now than it has been in years past, it's still a deadly virus.
Nearly three years since the start of the pandemic, 40 people are still dying of COVID every day in Canada on average.
"We aren't seeing the same significant health care burden as we did in years past. But there are definitely still groups that are getting sick, and sick enough to land in hospital and ... sick enough to die. We need to use all the tools we have to navigate this pandemic," Chagla said.
He said Paxlovid is "absolutely a useful tool but it's only useful if it's actually given to people."
'It's ... incredibly simple to take'
Data from Israel, the U.S. and Ontario has shown the drug can "markedly reduce hospitalization and reduce death in high-risk people," Chagla said.
"It's also incredibly simple to take. It's only five days worth of pills."
Speaking to reporters at a briefing Wednesday, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, said the Paxlovid rollout has been imperfect. She said there's more the federal public health establishment can do to bring doctors along.
"I think increased awareness and education among health professionals is something we can assist with," Tam said.
Doctors themselves also should do more to educate the public about the potential benefits of the treatment, she said.
"We can collectively do more in that area, particularly those with high-risk conditions or seniors," Tam said. "It can significantly reduce hospitalizations and deaths in high-risk groups, particularly in seniors."
Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says Ottawa has set aside ample supplies of Paxlovid for the provinces. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)
Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said supply shouldn't be an issue for the provinces and territories — there's plenty to go around.
"We'll be there to share whatever provinces and territories require to care for patients," he said.
The federal government has ordered 1.5 million Paxlovid treatment courses.
According to federal health department figures, Canada has budgeted $2 billion for COVID treatments — not including vaccines — and a significant portion of that sum has been earmarked for Paxlovid.
To date, 745,465 treatment courses have been distributed to provinces and territories, Correctional Services Canada, the Department of National Defence and Indigenous Services Canada.
Another 754,535 treatment courses will be delivered over the next two weeks.
But given how little it's been used to this point, there's a risk those Paxlovid kits could go to waste.
Alberta has received 86,000 doses of Paxlovid from the Public Health Agency of Canada. As of Dec. 12, about 10,200 Albertans have received the treatment.
In Saskatchewan, the number is even lower. Of the 24,050 courses the province has received, only 1,529 had been used as of Dec. 11. That's about six per cent of the total.
To help ease access, Ontario recently joined Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador in allowing pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid.
That means most patients in those provinces can skip a call to the doctor altogether — something that will make it easier for sick patients to get treatment within the five-day timeframe.
A spokesperson for Ontario's health ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
Pharmacists
like Ottawa's Scott Watson are now able to prescribe COVID-19 oral
treatment Paxlovid in Ontario after provincial changes to prescription
rules. (Marc Robichaud/CBC)
Scott Watson is a pharmacist at Watson's Pharmacy in Ottawa. He said he's heard from a number of COVID patients eager to get Paxlovid. Those calls often come in the evening or on the weekend when access to a family doctor is limited, he said.
Before the Ontario government cleared pharmacies to prescribe Paxlovid, Watson's hands were tied. Now, the pharmacy can be a one-stop shop.
But Watson cautioned that Paxlovid is not for everyone. It doesn't mix well with some drugs.
Health Canada has published a lengthy list of medications that could interact with Paxlovid.
"We have to do some research to make sure there's no interactions, that their body function is OK — their liver and kidneys," Watson said.
"So, if it's a difficult case then we will probably refer them to a doctor. But if it's OK and we think it's OK — it's a very good option. It's a very efficient process."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
>>>>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>>>>> From: "Murray, Charles (Ombud)" <Charles.Murray@gnb.ca>
>>>>> Date: Wed, 20 Mar 2019 18:16:15 +0000
>>>>> Subject: You wished to speak with me
>>>>> To: "motomaniac333@gmail.com" <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
>>>>>
>>>>> I have the advantage, sir, of having read many of your emails over the
>>>>> years.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> As such, I do not think a phone conversation between us, and
>>>>> specifically one which you might mistakenly assume was in response to
>>>>> your threat of legal action against me, is likely to prove a
>>>>> productive use of either of our time.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> If there is some specific matter about which you wish to communicate
>>>>> with me, feel free to email me with the full details and it will be
>>>>> given due consideration.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Charles Murray
>>>>>
>>>>> Ombud NB
>>>>>
>>>>> Acting Integrity Commissioner
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> From: Justice Website <JUSTWEB@novascotia.ca>
>>>>>> Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:21:11 +0000
>>>>>> Subject: Emails to Department of Justice and Province of Nova Scotia
>>>>>> To: "motomaniac333@gmail.com" <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Mr. Amos,
>>>>>> We acknowledge receipt of your recent emails to the Deputy Minister
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> Justice and lawyers within the Legal Services Division of the
>>>>>> Department of Justice respecting a possible claim against the
>>>>>> Province
>>>>>> of Nova Scotia. Service of any documents respecting a legal claim
>>>>>> against the Province of Nova Scotia may be served on the Attorney
>>>>>> General at 1690 Hollis Street, Halifax, NS. Please note that we will
>>>>>> not be responding to further emails on this matter.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Department of Justice
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 8/3/17, David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> If want something very serious to download and laugh at as well
>>>>>>> Please
>>>>>>> Enjoy and share real wiretap tapes of the mob
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> http://thedavidamosrant.
>>>>>>> ilian.html
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> As the CBC etc yap about Yankee wiretaps and whistleblowers I must
>>>>>>>> ask them the obvious question AIN'T THEY FORGETTING SOMETHING????
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> What the hell does the media think my Yankee lawyer served upon the
>>>>>>>> USDOJ right after I ran for and seat in the 39th Parliament
>>>>>>>> baseball
>>>>>>>> cards?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> http://archive.org/details/
>>>>>>>> 6
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> http://davidamos.blogspot.ca/
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> http://www.archive.org/
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> http://archive.org/details/
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> FEDERAL EXPRES February 7, 2006
>>>>>>>> Senator Arlen Specter
>>>>>>>> United States Senate
>>>>>>>> Committee on the Judiciary
>>>>>>>> 224 Dirksen Senate Office Building
>>>>>>>> Washington, DC 20510
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Dear Mr. Specter:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I have been asked to forward the enclosed tapes to you from a man
>>>>>>>> named, David Amos, a Canadian citizen, in connection with the
>>>>>>>> matters
>>>>>>>> raised in the attached letter.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Mr. Amos has represented to me that these are illegal FBI wire tap
>>>>>>>> tapes.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I believe Mr. Amos has been in contact with you about this
>>>>>>>> previously.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Very truly yours,
>>>>>>>> Barry A. Bachrach
>>>>>>>> Direct telephone: (508) 926-3403
>>>>>>>> Direct facsimile: (508) 929-3003
>>>>>>>> Email: bbachrach@bowditch.com
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>>>>>>> From: David Amos motomaniac333@gmail.com
>>>>>>> Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2017 09:32:09 -0400
>>>>>>> Subject: Attn Integrity Commissioner Alexandre Deschênes, Q.C.,
>>>>>>> To: coi@gnb.ca
>>>>>>> Cc: david.raymond.amos@gmail.com
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Good Day Sir
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> After I heard you speak on CBC I called your office again and
>>>>>>> managed
>>>>>>> to speak to one of your staff for the first time
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Please find attached the documents I promised to send to the lady
>>>>>>> who
>>>>>>> answered the phone this morning. Please notice that not after the
>>>>>>> Sgt
>>>>>>> at Arms took the documents destined to your office his pal Tanker
>>>>>>> Malley barred me in writing with an "English" only document.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> These are the hearings and the dockets in Federal Court that I
>>>>>>> suggested that you study closely.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> This is the docket in Federal Court
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> http://cas-cdc-www02.cas-satj.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> These are digital recordings of the last three hearings
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Dec 14th https://archive.org/details/
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> January 11th, 2016 https://archive.org/details/
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> April 3rd, 2017
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> https://archive.org/details/
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> This is the docket in the Federal Court of Appeal
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> http://cas-cdc-www02.cas-satj.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The only hearing thus far
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> May 24th, 2017
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> https://archive.org/details/
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> This Judge understnds the meaning of the word Integrity
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Date: 20151223
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Docket: T-1557-15
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Fredericton, New Brunswick, December 23, 2015
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> PRESENT: The Honourable Mr. Justice Bell
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> BETWEEN:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> DAVID RAYMOND AMOS
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Plaintiff
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Defendant
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ORDER
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> (Delivered orally from the Bench in Fredericton, New Brunswick, on
>>>>>>> December 14, 2015)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The Plaintiff seeks an appeal de novo, by way of motion pursuant to
>>>>>>> the Federal Courts Rules (SOR/98-106), from an Order made on
>>>>>>> November
>>>>>>> 12, 2015, in which Prothonotary Morneau struck the Statement of
>>>>>>> Claim
>>>>>>> in its entirety.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> At the outset of the hearing, the Plaintiff brought to my attention
>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>> letter dated September 10, 2004, which he sent to me, in my then
>>>>>>> capacity as Past President of the New Brunswick Branch of the
>>>>>>> Canadian
>>>>>>> Bar Association, and the then President of the Branch, Kathleen
>>>>>>> Quigg,
>>>>>>> (now a Justice of the New Brunswick Court of Appeal). In that
>>>>>>> letter
>>>>>>> he stated:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> As for your past President, Mr. Bell, may I suggest that you check
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> work of Frank McKenna before I sue your entire law firm including
>>>>>>> you.
>>>>>>> You are your brother’s keeper.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Frank McKenna is the former Premier of New Brunswick and a former
>>>>>>> colleague of mine at the law firm of McInnes Cooper. In addition to
>>>>>>> expressing an intention to sue me, the Plaintiff refers to a number
>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>> people in his Motion Record who he appears to contend may be
>>>>>>> witnesses
>>>>>>> or potential parties to be added. Those individuals who are known to
>>>>>>> me personally, include, but are not limited to the former Prime
>>>>>>> Minister of Canada, The Right Honourable Stephen Harper; former
>>>>>>> Attorney General of Canada and now a Justice of the Manitoba Court
>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>> Queen’s Bench, Vic Toews; former member of Parliament Rob Moore;
>>>>>>> former Director of Policing Services, the late Grant Garneau; former
>>>>>>> Chief of the Fredericton Police Force, Barry McKnight; former Staff
>>>>>>> Sergeant Danny Copp; my former colleagues on the New Brunswick Court
>>>>>>> of Appeal, Justices Bradley V. Green and Kathleen Quigg, and,
>>>>>>> retired
>>>>>>> Assistant Commissioner Wayne Lang of the Royal Canadian Mounted
>>>>>>> Police.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> In the circumstances, given the threat in 2004 to sue me in my
>>>>>>> personal capacity and my past and present relationship with many
>>>>>>> potential witnesses and/or potential parties to the litigation, I am
>>>>>>> of the view there would be a reasonable apprehension of bias should
>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>> hear this motion. See Justice de Grandpré’s dissenting judgment in
>>>>>>> Committee for Justice and Liberty et al v National Energy Board et
>>>>>>> al,
>>>>>>> [1978] 1 SCR 369 at p 394 for the applicable test regarding
>>>>>>> allegations of bias. In the circumstances, although neither party
>>>>>>> has
>>>>>>> requested I recuse myself, I consider it appropriate that I do so.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> AS A RESULT OF MY RECUSAL, THIS COURT ORDERS that the Administrator
>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>> the Court schedule another date for the hearing of the motion.
>>>>>>> There
>>>>>>> is no order as to costs.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> “B. Richard Bell”
>>>>>>> Judge
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Below after the CBC article about your concerns (I made one comment
>>>>>>> already) you will find the text of just two of many emails I had
>>>>>>> sent
>>>>>>> to your office over the years since I first visited it in 2006.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I noticed that on July 30, 2009, he was appointed to the the Court
>>>>>>> Martial Appeal Court of Canada Perhaps you should scroll to the
>>>>>>> bottom of this email ASAP and read the entire Paragraph 83 of my
>>>>>>> lawsuit now before the Federal Court of Canada?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "FYI This is the text of the lawsuit that should interest Trudeau
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> most
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ---------- Original message ----------
>>>>>>> From: justin.trudeau.a1@parl.gc.ca
>>>>>>> Date: Thu, Oct 22, 2015 at 8:18 PM
>>>>>>> Subject: Réponse automatique : RE My complaint against the CROWN in
>>>>>>> Federal Court Attn David Hansen and Peter MacKay If you planning to
>>>>>>> submit a motion for a publication ban on my complaint trust that you
>>>>>>> dudes are way past too late
>>>>>>> To: david.raymond.amos@gmail.com
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Veuillez noter que j'ai changé de courriel. Vous pouvez me rejoindre
>>>>>>> à
>>>>>>> lalanthier@hotmail.com
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Pour rejoindre le bureau de M. Trudeau veuillez envoyer un courriel
>>>>>>> à
>>>>>>> tommy.desfosses@parl.gc.ca
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Please note that I changed email address, you can reach me at
>>>>>>> lalanthier@hotmail.com
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> To reach the office of Mr. Trudeau please send an email to
>>>>>>> tommy.desfosses@parl.gc.ca
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thank you,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Merci ,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> http://davidraymondamos3.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 83. The Plaintiff states that now that Canada is involved in more
>>>>>>> war
>>>>>>> in Iraq again it did not serve Canadian interests and reputation to
>>>>>>> allow Barry Winters to publish the following words three times over
>>>>>>> five years after he began his bragging:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> January 13, 2015
>>>>>>> This Is Just AS Relevant Now As When I wrote It During The Debate
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> December 8, 2014
>>>>>>> Why Canada Stood Tall!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Friday, October 3, 2014
>>>>>>> Little David Amos’ “True History Of War” Canadian Airstrikes And
>>>>>>> Stupid Justin Trudeau
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Canada’s and Canadians free ride is over. Canada can no longer hide
>>>>>>> behind Amerka’s and NATO’s skirts.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> When I was still in Canadian Forces then Prime Minister Jean
>>>>>>> Chretien
>>>>>>> actually committed the Canadian Army to deploy in the second
>>>>>>> campaign
>>>>>>> in Iraq, the Coalition of the Willing. This was against or contrary
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> the wisdom or advice of those of us Canadian officers that were
>>>>>>> involved in the initial planning phases of that operation. There
>>>>>>> were
>>>>>>> significant concern in our planning cell, and NDHQ about of the
>>>>>>> dearth
>>>>>>> of concern for operational guidance, direction, and forces for
>>>>>>> operations after the initial occupation of Iraq. At the “last
>>>>>>> minute”
>>>>>>> Prime Minister Chretien and the Liberal government changed its mind.
>>>>>>> The Canadian government told our amerkan cousins that we would not
>>>>>>> deploy combat troops for the Iraq campaign, but would deploy a
>>>>>>> Canadian Battle Group to Afghanistan, enabling our amerkan cousins
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> redeploy troops from there to Iraq. The PMO’s thinking that it was
>>>>>>> less costly to deploy Canadian Forces to Afghanistan than Iraq. But
>>>>>>> alas no one seems to remind the Liberals of Prime Minister
>>>>>>> Chretien’s
>>>>>>> then grossly incorrect assumption. Notwithstanding Jean Chretien’s
>>>>>>> incompetence and stupidity, the Canadian Army was heroic,
>>>>>>> professional, punched well above it’s weight, and the PPCLI Battle
>>>>>>> Group, is credited with “saving Afghanistan” during the Panjway
>>>>>>> campaign of 2006.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> What Justin Trudeau and the Liberals don’t tell you now, is that
>>>>>>> then
>>>>>>> Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chretien committed, and deployed the
>>>>>>> Canadian army to Canada’s longest “war” without the advice, consent,
>>>>>>> support, or vote of the Canadian Parliament.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> What David Amos and the rest of the ignorant, uneducated, and
>>>>>>> babbling
>>>>>>> chattering classes are too addled to understand is the deployment of
>>>>>>> less than 75 special operations troops, and what is known by
>>>>>>> planners
>>>>>>> as a “six pac cell” of fighter aircraft is NOT the same as a
>>>>>>> deployment of a Battle Group, nor a “war” make.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The Canadian Government or The Crown unlike our amerkan cousins have
>>>>>>> the “constitutional authority” to commit the Canadian nation to war.
>>>>>>> That has been recently clearly articulated to the Canadian public by
>>>>>>> constitutional scholar Phillippe Legasse. What Parliament can do is
>>>>>>> remove “confidence” in The Crown’s Government in a “vote of
>>>>>>> non-confidence.” That could not happen to the Chretien Government
>>>>>>> regarding deployment to Afghanistan, and it won’t happen in this
>>>>>>> instance with the conservative majority in The Commons regarding a
>>>>>>> limited Canadian deployment to the Middle East.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> President George Bush was quite correct after 911 and the terror
>>>>>>> attacks in New York; that the Taliban “occupied” and “failed state”
>>>>>>> Afghanistan was the source of logistical support, command and
>>>>>>> control,
>>>>>>> and training for the Al Quaeda war of terror against the world. The
>>>>>>> initial defeat, and removal from control of Afghanistan was vital
>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> P.S. Whereas this CBC article is about your opinion of the actions
>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>> the latest Minister Of Health trust that Mr Boudreau and the CBC
>>>>>>> have
>>>>>>> had my files for many years and the last thing they are is ethical.
>>>>>>> Ask his friends Mr Murphy and the RCMP if you don't believe me.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Subject:
>>>>>>> Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007 12:02:35 -0400
>>>>>>> From: "Murphy, Michael B. \(DH/MS\)" MichaelB.Murphy@gnb.ca
>>>>>>> To: motomaniac_02186@yahoo.com
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> January 30, 2007
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> WITHOUT PREJUDICE
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Mr. David Amos
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Dear Mr. Amos:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> This will acknowledge receipt of a copy of your e-mail of December
>>>>>>> 29,
>>>>>>> 2006 to Corporal Warren McBeath of the RCMP.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Because of the nature of the allegations made in your message, I
>>>>>>> have
>>>>>>> taken the measure of forwarding a copy to Assistant Commissioner
>>>>>>> Steve
>>>>>>> Graham of the RCMP “J” Division in Fredericton.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Honourable Michael B. Murphy
>>>>>>> Minister of Health
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> CM/cb
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Warren McBeath warren.mcbeath@rcmp-grc.gc.ca wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Date: Fri, 29 Dec 2006 17:34:53 -0500
>>>>>>> From: "Warren McBeath" warren.mcbeath@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
>>>>>>> To: kilgoursite@ca.inter.net, MichaelB.Murphy@gnb.ca,
>>>>>>> nada.sarkis@gnb.ca, wally.stiles@gnb.ca, dwatch@web.net,
>>>>>>> motomaniac_02186@yahoo.com
>>>>>>> CC: ottawa@chuckstrahl.com,
>>>>>>> riding@chuckstrahl.com,John.
>>>>>>> Oda.B@parl.gc.ca,"Bev BUSSON" bev.busson@rcmp-grc.gc.ca,
>>>>>>> "Paul Dube" PAUL.DUBE@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: Remember me Kilgour? Landslide Annie McLellan has
>>>>>>> forgotten me but the crooks within the RCMP have not
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Dear Mr. Amos,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thank you for your follow up e-mail to me today. I was on days off
>>>>>>> over the holidays and returned to work this evening. Rest assured I
>>>>>>> was not ignoring or procrastinating to respond to your concerns.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> As your attachment sent today refers from Premier Graham, our
>>>>>>> position
>>>>>>> is clear on your dead calf issue: Our forensic labs do not process
>>>>>>> testing on animals in cases such as yours, they are referred to the
>>>>>>> Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown who can provide these
>>>>>>> services. If you do not choose to utilize their expertise in this
>>>>>>> instance, then that is your decision and nothing more can be done.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> As for your other concerns regarding the US Government, false
>>>>>>> imprisonment and Federal Court Dates in the US, etc... it is clear
>>>>>>> that Federal authorities are aware of your concerns both in Canada
>>>>>>> the US. These issues do not fall into the purvue of Detachment
>>>>>>> and policing in Petitcodiac, NB.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> It was indeed an interesting and informative conversation we had on
>>>>>>> December 23rd, and I wish you well in all of your future endeavors.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Warren McBeath, Cpl.
>>>>>>> GRC Caledonia RCMP
>>>>>>> Traffic Services NCO
>>>>>>> Ph: (506) 387-2222
>>>>>>> Fax: (506) 387-4622
>>>>>>> E-mail warren.mcbeath@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Alexandre Deschênes, Q.C.,
>>>>>>> Office of the Integrity Commissioner
>>>>>>> Edgecombe House, 736 King Street
>>>>>>> Fredericton, N.B. CANADA E3B 5H1
>>>>>>> tel.: 506-457-7890
>>>>>>> fax: 506-444-5224
>>>>>>> e-mail:coi@gnb.ca
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
RE CLOSURE TO VISITS AND DSP Hey Liz Perhaps my sister Nancy Chedore may answer your questions Trust that Higgy et al know our Mother is locked down in Shannex too
David Amos<david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> | Thu, Dec 15, 2022 at 11:57 AM |
| To: CDonovan@shannex.com, lizkramer@hotmail.com, bdraper@shannex.com, info@shannex.com, Trevor.Holder@gnb.ca, jean-claude.d'amours@gnb.ca, alexandre.silberman@cbc.ca, gdrapeau@shannex.com, "Dorothy.Shephard" <Dorothy.Shephard@gnb.ca>, laura.lyall@bellmedia.ca, "robert.gauvin" <robert.gauvin@gnb.ca>, coalitionnb@gmail.com, "Wayne.Long" <Wayne.Long@parl.gc.ca>, "rob.moore" <rob.moore@parl.gc.ca>, "John.Williamson" <John.Williamson@parl.gc.ca>, "Dominic.Cardy" <Dominic.Cardy@gnb.ca>, "Mitton, Megan (LEG)" <megan.mitton@gnb.ca>, info@nbanh.com | |
| Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>, "Hamish.Wright" <Hamish.Wright@gnb.ca>, "john.green" <john.green@gnb.ca>, "hugh.flemming" <hugh.flemming@gnb.ca>, "blaine.higgs" <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca> | |
Deja Vu or What??? COVID-19 outbreaks stretch resources at nursing homesSocial development critic and seniors advocate seek return of masking, other measures as holidays nearAt Loch Lomond Villa's Village home in Saint John, 15 residents are in isolation, said CEO Cindy Donovan. The 100-bed home also had a critical staff shortage due to COVID and other illnesses about two weeks ago, for a 10-day period "It really did put a strain on us," she said, adding that some staff worked overtime and pulled double shifts. Donovan believes the outbreak is under control. The infected residents, who suffered fevers, congestion and poor appetites, are doing well, she said. She expected the isolation period for many of them to end by late Wednesday or Thursday. But with holiday visiting quickly approaching, Donovan urges people to get vaccinated and to stay away from long-term care homes if they have any COVID symptoms or feel unwell. "There's COVID outbreaks in many of the homes right now across the province so please don't come in and visit," she said. "We don't want any other residents to be ill, we don't want family to take it home to their own families." CBC asked the Department of Health for an update Wednesday on COVID and flu outbreaks at long-term care homes but has not received a response. Call for measures to keep seniors safeLiberal social development critic Robert Gauvin raised the Village COVID outbreak and other nursing home outbreaks in the legislature Wednesday, questioning what Social Development Minister Dorothy Shephard is going to do to keep residents and staff safe. "The families of residents are asking the government to put in place health protocols for people entering or visiting these facilities, such as masking, screening and better communication about outbreaks," he said in French.
"They're also asking the government to restore funding [ended in June] that would cover the additional cost associated with cleaning, sanitization and other prevention measures." Shephard said her department has been "closely monitoring any and all outbreaks" in all long-term care facilities, particularly nursing homes. "We feel that they have the expertise and staff and supports that they need in order to manage the situation." Advocate seeks mask mandate, fears lockdownsNew Brunswick nursing homes have loosened COVID-19 restrictions as they've transitioned to the "new normal" of living with the virus, but some measures, such as employee masking, remain in place, Julie Weir, CEO of the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes, has said. Earlier this week, Dr. Yves Léger, the acting chief medical officer of health, told CBC he's not ready to recommend the government impose any mandatory protective measures in advance of the holidays. But it's something Public Health continues to "discuss and review," he said. Cecile Cassista, executive director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents' Rights, would like to see a return to mandatory masking to protect vulnerable seniors and prevent more outbreaks.
"I wish they'd bring back the mask. I really do because I see that the path forward if we don't … start wearing our masks. We're going to be [in] lockdown" again, she said. And nursing home residents will "die of loneliness." "So I think we need to take the proactive step now, and it should be uniform, across the board," said Cassista. "We're not out of the storm yet." Shannex asks people to be 'extremely vigilant'Shannex has a small number of COVID-19 cases in some of its homes across the province, including two cases at Pavillon Richard in Moncton, according to spokesperson Isabelle Landry. She did not provide any other details. "Our team is well-prepared to manage all types of outbreaks," Landry said in an emailed statement. "Together, they work hard to control the spread of any virus with support from our organizational infection prevention and control specialist and by following Public Health guidelines." Asked about protective measures, Landry said Shannex families are aware of the precautions in place, but did encourage people to be "extremely vigilant," given the respiratory viruses circulating. "We would like to emphasize the importance of refraining from visiting our homes if someone is experiencing any sign of feeling unwell, however slight, or if they feel that they may have been exposed to anyone else who is experiencing symptoms of illness," she said. "Wear your mask properly, maintain physical distancing at all times, perform proper hand hygiene and monitor yourself for symptoms. We are serving a vulnerable population, and everyone has a role to play in keeping others safe and well." Village closed to public, Christmas plans in fluxGiven the outbreak at the Village less than two weeks before Christmas, the Villa has unfortunately had to adjust its planned festivities for the third straight year, said Donovan. Very few events have been cancelled so far, but staff meet daily to discuss the schedule. "We are working very hard to ensure our residents get to experience the holiday season the best that we can," reads a notice to families. The Villa still has many protective measures in place, including extra cleaning throughout the homes and rapid tests available to residents, staff and visitors, said Donovan.
At the Village, visiting is restricted to two "essential care partners" per resident. An essential care partner is deemed essential to maintaining a resident's mental and physical health, while retaining necessary safety precautions during a pandemic/outbreak response. These essential care partners are trained in mitigating measures, such as proper hand hygiene and how to wear their masks properly, said Donovan, and visits must take place in the resident's room. For those visiting a loved one who is COVID-positive, they must wear a mask, gown, and goggles at all times during the visit. The Villa provides personal protective equipment to its visitors, as well as staff. Staff encouraged to mask while off-dutyIn addition, although masking is not mandatory in indoor public places in New Brunswick, staff are encouraged to wear masks, said Donovan. "We do emphasize with the staff that, 'You still have to come back in and care for our residents.' So we're asking them to always be safe." Staff have been testing positive since the summer, when activities in the the province, such as concerts and hockey games, really started to open up again, she said. This has made staffing a challenge at times, particularly since temporary relief from Public Health's provincial rapid outbreak management teams, or PROMT, is no longer available, Donovan said. The Villa's infection control nurse does receive daily guidance from the regional Public Health office. Earlier in the pandemic, however, PROMT teams, which could include staff from Extra-Mural-Ambulance New Brunswick, government departments, regional health authorities and volunteers from regulated health professions, would visit homes during outbreaks to provide assessment and operational assistance and support, such as COVID-19 testing. Staff are tired, she said, noting a number of nurses and licensed practical nurses have left the profession over the past couple of years. "It's not a good state of affairs," Donovan said. "And I'm not sure when the end is going to happen." With files from Information Morning Saint John | |
Liberal
social development critic Robert Gauvin expressed concerns about the
'serious health threat' the COVID-19 outbreak at the Village poses. (Government of New Brunswick)
Cindy
Donovan, CEO of Loch Lomond Villa, said as soon as a resident exhibits
COVID-19 symptoms, they're tested and isolated, and staff caring for
them must wear full personal protective equipment. (Submitted by Cindy Donovan )1133 Regent Street, suite 206
Fredericton, NB, E3B 3Z2
(506) 460-6262
Meet the staff at NBANH
Julie Weir, Chief Executive Officer
Andrew McGuire, Legal Counsel
Navy Vezina, Legal Counsel
Samantha Hachey, Director of Membership Services
Emma Bradford, Recruitment and Retention Coordinator
Mélanie Eva, Administrative Coordinator
Nicole Delamere, Executive Assistant
Whitney Bennett, Receptionist
Justin M. Wies
Called to the bar: 2011 (NB)
New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes Inc.
Assistant Director of Labour Relations
206-1133 Regent St.
Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 3Z2
Phone: 506-460-6262
On 12/13/20, David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Fishman Kramer <lizkramer@hotmail.com>
> Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2020 22:19:32 +0000
> Subject: Fwd: CLOSURE TO VISITS AND DSP
> To: David Raymond <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
>
>
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: lizkramer@hotmail.com
> Date: December 11, 2020 at 3:49:27 PM AST
> To: Betty Draper <bdraper@shannex.com>, info@shannex.com
> Cc: Trevor.Holder@gnb.ca, jean-claude.d'amours@gnb.ca,
> alexandre.silberman@cbc.ca, Greta Drapeau <gdrapeau@shannex.com>,
> Dorothy Shephard <Dorothy.Shephard@gnb.ca>, laura.lyall@bellmedia.ca
> Subject: Re: CLOSURE TO VISITS AND DSP
>
> Dear Betty,
>
> I’m just now sitting here thinking about the current situation, and I
> have to tell you, I’m confused. I’m going to explain why.
>
> Firstly, as a preventative Measure, you closed visits even to the DSP’s
> whom
> Had to sign to all sorts of details and ways to conduct Ourselves to
> keep our own mothers and fathers safe.
>
> As you can see by your email below, you closed to visitors on November
> 20th, but it was actually a staff member who made the mistake!
>
> Is she guilty? She can’t help it right but she is supposed to be Uber
> concerned for
> The welfare of all of those aged people in her care, she should be
> well aware of her responsibilities, shouldn’t she?
>
> It’s bad enough that it had to happen let alone the families being
> punished as a result??
>
> I’m sure you don’t see it that way. It came
> Fresh into my mind as I reread your email below.
>
> Did your employees have any restrictions put on them? Were they to
> refrain from going places Or Visiting people? Maybe you think my
> question is silly. Maybe it is, but the fact remains that WE families
> are the ones taking the impact of your employees actions and it is
> simply unjust.
>
> EVERYONE is constantly reminding us that it is our social
> responsibility to do this and do that, but where is the line drawn?
> Who gets to decide? Do we even care what’s fair or are we merely
> following Orders?
> What exactly is going on here?
>
> Now today, there has been no contact at all. No call multiplier mass
> phone call from Shannex, no update from you, it’s total radio silence.
>
> I’m assuming your Not Going to let us
> Back to pre orange phase behaviour and thus the delay in communication.
>
> It will probably take some thought and some really Great writing to
> get that point across, as we are all waiting with baited breaTh to
> know Whether we will be able to see our loved Ones any time soon.
>
>
> I have one other unrelated matter to discuss with you.
>
> Two Sunday’s ago On November 29th my Mom Called to inform me that she was
> told
> She was covid positive on the previous day almost directly after supper.
>
> She said someone told Her that her family had been contacted. She was taken
> To the covid “staging area” and put in a room with a known covid
> Positive patient. She was transported from her room to
> This area without a mask.
>
> After a few minutes passed and a bit of
> Small talk between these two ‘patients’, some staff came back to
> advise my Mom that a mistake had been made and that she was not
> Positive for covid. She was taken back to her room.
>
> She explained to me that she did ask
> About being exposed to the known
> Positive patient, and the employee advised “as Long as you weren’t in
> there For more than 15 minutes everything will be fine.”
>
> Since then an ambulance attendant who was taking my Mom To dialysis
> one day this week had told Her that she is covid positive as well. As
> a matter of fact it’s possible that this ambulance attendant still
> Thinks my Mother is positive.
>
> So I have a couple of perhaps obvious questions.
>
> Who shared this false information with the ambulance Attendant?
>
> Is there any level Of confidentiality for these patients or does it
> only apply to family
> Members as we seem to be the only ones who were not informed of this
> ‘mistake’.
>
> At what level Did this ‘mistake’ occur?
>
> At what point does an administrator think It
> Prudent to call the family and let them
> Know what’s going on?
>
> Who thinks it’s reasonable to put a female senior in a room with a male
> senior?
>
> Are the sanitary rules only Followed if a person is NOT positive? The
> mask Wearing and isolation does not apply to ‘sick’ patients?
>
> Who decided that 15 minutes was the threshold of non transmission? How
> Come no one appeared Concerned that my mother had been potentially
> exposed? No further than normal isolation was Carried out To my
> knowledge.
>
> Do you Ever feel like you are in the twilight
> Zone? I do, because there is simply no logic
> Or reasoning or Consistency to ANY of these policies.
>
> We are expected to obey whatever illogical practices you and the
> public health authority and the COVID team decide they want to
> implement at the time.
>
> What gives here?
>
> Now I would like to recognize all of your hard work during this
> stressful time THANK YOU, but you really got to Put yourself in the
> shoes Of a logical thinking Outsider for a moment and realize Just How
> Messed Up this whole REACTION or perhaps in some Cases, lack or
> reaction appears.
>
> I’m searching For answers. Can I please get Some?
>
> I do apologize that my tolerance of this nonsense has brought Me Again
> to A Point of frustration which I can No longer Contain.
>
> Respectfully, Liz Kramer
>
>
> On Nov 20, 2020, at 8:58 AM, Betty Draper <bdraper@shannex.com> wrote:
>
>
> Betty Draper
> Business Manager
>
> Parkland Saint John
> 40 Vitality Drive, Saint John, NB E2K 0J5
> Main Line: 506-649-4711 Cell: 506-349-7695
>
> experienceparkland.com<https:/
> Follow us on Facebook!<https://www.
>
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