A6 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 28, 1998

Noise, inattention marred hospital stay

An open letter to: Michael Leisinger Mills Memorial Hospital

Dear Sir:

I am wiiting to you in regarding my recent stay as a patient at Mills Memorial Hospital. :

I have tived in Terrace al- most 25 years and this was not the first time ] have been in this hospital, but I sure hope it is my last,

What ever happened to patient comfort? I under- sland there is a shortage of slaff duc to cuts, but please!

After my surgery I was fortunate to be awakened by the recovery nurse who kept me there long enough to make sure I was completely awake and had all my faculties before I was shipped upstairs to ‘The Ward’, Thank you to you.

All the vital signs, such as blood pressure, temperature and pulse were checked. What ever happened to a nurse asking if you are com- fortable or if you need any- thing? ] asked two different nurses for a blanket and some water. My husband finally pot them for me when he came to visit.

I was in the hospital be- cause I was sick. I needed peace and quiet. Un- fortunately you don’t get that in Mills Memorial, From the moment I got put in my bed, the noise never stopped. I was in a 4-bed ward so I tried to be patient and understanding. Since when do they let three or more visitors in to see one patient at one time? So much for getting any rest.

When my family came to visit me, we talked quietly, trying not to disturb my neighbour. Too bad the same courlesy couldn’t have been returned. Aren’t visit- ing hours over at 8 p.m.? Guess not in that room. There were people visiting as late as 9:30-10 p.m.

Do the nurses ever answer the buzzer when a patient rings? I wouldn’t know, be- cause all day and night I heard these buzzers going off. I know that I called once when my machine started to make funny noises and it took about 10 minutes for anyone to come. Good job it was only the machine that was in trouble.

Although 1 was in only two and a half days, it felt much longer. I did not get the rest I needed. I think there was only one nurse I saw more than once and that was because I asked her to help me get out of bed, so I could start moving around.

She managed to get me into a chair, got me a bowl of hot water and told me to give myself a good wash. Hey right, considering I could barely move at all.

However, I did manage to wash my face and hands and give my teeth a good brush- ing. Then there was the wait to get me back into my bed. By the time this was accom- plished, [ thought my feet were going to fall off from the cold.

At shift change there was a new ritual. All the nurses

i Aeat Coss - Heat Gain... | /Minimixed

.. Strong, durable, maintenance free

ALL WEST

GLASS al

See our ad on page A3

CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD

The

_Mail Bag _

on the ward came in to say ‘hi’. Why? You never see them the rest of the shift anyway, I was trying desperately to sleep when all of a sudden in popped six, yes six nurses just to say ‘hi’. Besides being ex- tremely noisy, I saw no rea- son whatsoever for them all to be there.

When I was finally dis- charged, my husband asked if there was wheelchair for me. Not one nurse on the floor knew where to find a wheelchair. If it: had not been for the niece of the patient beside me who found one for me I would probably have had to walk to the car.

Do I sound upset? You bet. Where are all my tax dollars going? A good por- lion of my cheque goes to medical insurance. Where is

it being spent? T think it is time for this government to get with it and inform the paying public where all our money is going. Bet they wouldn’t get the same treat- ment in the hospital as we taxpaying people do.

To those that have found their stay in this hospital a happier one than mine, I say good for you,

I was very reluctant to write this letter, but felt that if I don’t tell it like it was, then the general public is never going to know just how bad it is in our hospital.

Please Mr. Leisinger, do something, I’m not sure that things could get any worse than they already are. Iam a taxpayer and I want to know what you're going to do about the situation.

Marlyn Marshall, Terrace, B.C.

‘No’ to treaty

Dear Sir:

It seems the age-old adage has surfaced — the totem poles have blindly accepted an incarcerated principle disguised as the Nisga’a trealy.

Once, not long ago, our Nisga’a nation did have guts. Our leaders stood for all of us, not just their families or themselves. It is sad to know this is no more.

The term made famous by a very brave man — lock, stock and barrel —- is now rephrased to fit, ‘‘Grab, [’H take, and] accept. How much do I get?’”’

Our law is no more, All our past triumphs are over- shadowed by the quick endorsement of this totem pole — oops, I mean Nisga’a Final Agreement.

Qur elders are mislead and our people told if they vote for this deal they will get moncy, It’s like the adage, the blind leading the blind.

This Nisga’a Constitution and the Canadian Constitu- tion are just words that mean nothing — the indemnity clause saw to that.

This treaty violates every civil and human right. To endorse it is to forget our brave soldiers of wars past who fought to preserve our freedom of choice and our choice of freedoms.

Do not scream too hard about the propaganda of this treaty taught in schools. Why stop there? Teach about the residential school era, too. Teach about the in- carceration of innocent children.

I leave you with these parting thoughts. Indian is a ‘what’ word. Nisga’a is a ‘what’ word. Neither tells us who we are.

Get someone to translate the final agreement. Pleas understand it. Then vote on your conscience, if you dare. Remember freedom is a choice. grasped by the brave few, daring to say no. The Nisga’a Final Agree- ment extinguishes that choice of freedom — forever.

Sa-Thlair of Gingolx,

(Samuel H. Lincoln),

Prince Rupert, B.C.

RADELET & COMPANY barristers & Solicitors Tax Law © Trusts © Corporate & Commercial

1330 - 1075 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6E 3C9

IPhone: 604-669-0878

Fax: 604-689-1386

108, Bike o4ay Learn a new language, make some ») new friends, have some fun!! CANADIAN PARENTS FOR FRENCH rte Fog is pleased to offer adult Terrace Chapter conversational rench lessons

Starting October 28 7-9 pm at Cassie Hall Elementeary Library Cost $25.00 members, $35.00 non-members

Whether your a beginner or just want fo brush up your skills this course is for youl | rs

To register call Debbie at 4635-9390 or Karen at 635-0135 Also check the Public Library for story time “En Francais” starting soon on Wednesday afternoons, Brought to you by Canadian Parents For French

and Katimavik,

TKERMODET TRADING

Bedding & Knife

. Kermodei Trading: (The Yellow Gift House on highway 16) 638-1808 24 Cow Bay Road, Prince Rupert 627-1808

WORK WEAR

MEN'S WEAR

HARDWARE ..... FOOTWEAR.

MEN'S FASHION WEAR

STAIRS

TRIGOS KIDS TOYS

THE JAIL

YE WISE OWL

GIFT SHOP STAIRS

LAURA BROOKS |

LIDIA’S - LUNCHEON.

: 4

FURNITURE:

XMAS SHOP

‘ i ,. MUSIC SHOP

SPORT SHOP \

|STAIRS

CHECK OUR IN STORE SALES AND EVERYDAY LOW PRICES.IN ALL BOUTIQUES!

* Tools

* Fishing

* Hardware

* Key Sharpening

Infant - Adult + Workboots * Baby Boots * Teen Shoes

* Suits

* Wallets

« Pajama’s

» Socks

* Workwear * Raingear

» Luggage

* Mens Shirts

LOWER LEVEL

True Value Hardware:

+ Auto

* Halloween Costumes * Pet Supplies

Trigo’s Footwear:

* Sorrels

Tana Shoe Care

* Spice Girl Shoes

Trigo’s Mens Wear:

* Sport Jackets

* Robes

* Underwear

» Sweaters

‘ Jeans

* Outerwear

+ Leather Belts

* Tuxedo Rentals

SECOND LEVEL

* Tommy Hilfiger ‘Levis. * Point Zero * Calvin Klein * Quick Silver

Laura Brooks

* Day & Evening Wear * Sportswear

* Dresses * Jewellery

* Designer Pursess * Outerwear

‘ Exotic Lingerie * Specialty Bras

Trigo’s Kids:

* Oshkosh Infants « Sizes 2-6X & 7-20 Girls

« Dresses Boys

* Suits + Dress Shirts

* Pointzero +* Guess

* Skirts ‘Outerwear

* Jeans

Trigo’s Toys:

* Books * Little Tikes * One Step

« Baby Supplies * Barbie « Lego

THIRD LEVEL

The Sport Shop: : We Carry Equipment & Clothes For:

* Swimming

« Baseball

* Racketball

¢ Bikes

* Boxing Footwear From: * Reebok

* Airwalk

* Puma

Music Shop: » Tapes & CD's |

Christmas Shop:

* Decorations * trees

Crafts Shop:

Huge Selection of Everything:

* Paints * Wreaths * Decorations

: Crafts, * Moving Figures

Curling Soccer Badminton Martial Arts Weight Lifting \ Fila *, Birkeristock

4

‘¢

* Dried Flowers * Yarn * Baskets

featian- dust Over Hardware

\s Tui Vahue

rigo Centre,

THE

MUSIC SHOP ThiGgoe

Footwear

Crafts n’ More

Mon - Sat Friday g Sunday

Hours 9:30 - 6:00 & 9:30 - 9:00 Closed