His condition is not worth an ambulance trip, but he spends six days in hospital

Friday, May 28, Neil Boucher was working on his trailer at the Ocean View campsite in Beaubassin-Est. Suddenly, he is seized with pain and is unable to get up.

Neil Boucher spent almost a week in the hospital.

Photo: Radio-Canada

I froze. I had to call my spouse to come get me up, because I couldn’t get up on my own.he says.

Mr. Boucher had experienced other similar pains during the previous days, but each time they reappeared, they became more acute. The next morning, the pain reached a new height when he wanted to sit on a chair in his trailer.

Neil Boucher was working on his trailer when he froze and couldn’t move.

Photo: Radio-Canada

I couldn’t make any movement. I couldn’t turn my back. I couldn’t lift my arms high in the air. I couldn’t walkhe said.

His wife called the ambulance. Once there, the paramedics carried out several examinations on his state of health. They determined, according to Mr. Boucher, that his vital prognosis was not engaged. There was therefore no need to transport him to the emergency room by ambulance.

But, before leaving the scene, they wanted to help Mr. Boucher get to the emergency room… by sitting him in his car.

So they gave me gas that I blew that killed the pains, but for a very, very short period of time, 10, 15 seconds.he explains.

They proceeded step by step, first putting him in a wheelchair before putting him in his car. His wife then drove him to the emergency room of the CHU Dumont in Moncton.

At the hospital, medical professionals determined that her problem was with her spine. The diagnosis earned him a six-day stay in hospital during which he took several pain medications and received help from a physiotherapist.

Changes to unclog emergencies

In January, the provincial government announced a series of measures to unclog emergency rooms. Despite everything, the wait time remains significant for many.

One of these measures allows paramedics not to systematically transport patients to the emergency room.

In a written statement, Jean-Pierre Savoie, vice-president of Ambulance New Brunswick, which is managed by Medavie, explains that it is impossible for him to comment on a particular case. due to patient privacy legislation.

He points out that paramedics rely on their clinical judgment to determine if a patient should be transported by ambulance or if they should be offered other types of care, such as an appointment with a family doctor.

Jean-Pierre Savoie, vice-president of Ambulance New Brunswick (archives)

Photo: Radio-Canada / Catherine Harrop

The clinical guidelines governing this initiative [sont] based on clear and evidence-based protocolssays Mr. Savoie in writing.

Paramedics may consult with a clinical support practitioner or physician to make this decision.

On the other hand, in the case of Neil Boucher, he still went to the hospital. This decision therefore did not help to unclog the emergency room. On the other hand, the paramedics were released more quickly and did not have to wait with Mr. Boucher.

In recent months, paramedics have had to wait hours with some patients in the emergency room. Paramedics are required to stay with patients until the hospital takes over treatment.