Hospitalized and without television: “My mother, cut off from the world”, deplores her son

She is still there, waiting for a place in a nursing home, says her son Paul.

She finds the time long because she cannot watch television for the simple reason that there is none.

She’s cut off from the worlddeplores Paul Chiasson.

Last October, Radio-Canada revealed that patients in several hospitals in the French-language Vitalité network could not count on television to overcome boredom.

The hospitals whose rooms found themselves without televisions were: the CHU Dr-Georges-L.-Dumont in Moncton, the Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurstthe Campbellton Regional Hospital, the Edmundston Regional Hospital and the Tracadie Hospital.

Contract ended

It’s the business HealthHub Patient Engagement Solutions which offered this service under a contract with the Vitalité health network.

Unfortunately, the old television equipment from five hospitals in New Brunswick is being removed in agreement with the Vitalité Health Network because the contract is over.then explained Greg MacGirra vice-president of this company. Vitalité’s administration has decided not to renew or replace the old system.

The vice-president of external consultation services and professional services of the Vitalité health network, Stéphane Legacy, had indicated that it was a unfortunate situation that the network tries to correct as soon as possible.

Compared to Mr. Legacy, I understood that there were going to be actions that would be taken quicklyemphasizes Paul Chiasson. I would like to know when the service will be restored.

Paul Chiasson asks himself a lot of questions. Why is it taking so long to find a solution for my mother and all the other seniors and patients who are in the hospital for an extended period, such as people who are in palliative care?

” It saddens me. This story is sad. I find it cruel for my mother. »

Paul Chiasson explains that his mother is hard of hearing and suffers from Parkinson’s disease.

She has great difficulty hearing and speakinghe said. On the other hand, she can read and she can see. She had television and captions at home. That way she was aware of the news. She was connected, if you will, with her surroundings.

” Poor thing, she spends her days staring at the ceiling. »

the Wirelessquite an adventure

The service Wireless is offered free of charge in most establishments of the Vitalité health network.

However, Paul Chiasson talks about a system that automatically disconnects after a few hours and which presents quite a technological challenge for his mother.

I think it affects all seniors who are in geriatrics, who certainly have the same challenges as my mother and many other patients who do not necessarily have the technological skills to be able to connect to the Internet. Moreover, the service Wireless of the hospital does not allow video streaming.

In short, connecting to this technology can be quite an adventure for an 87-year-old patient suffering from Parkinson’s.

” Asking my 87-year-old mother that, I think, is a bit of a stretch. »

As far as communicating with her, the only way is to go see her.he adds. But, it is not possible since there is an outbreak of COVID-19 in the geriatrics ward.

The Vitalité Health Network provided an update on the situation, by email:

The tendering process was launched last February and we are currently in the phase of selecting service providers. The Network is doing everything in its power to speed up the process, but a project of this magnitude is subject to strict purchasing rules that require unavoidable steps and lead to delays beyond our control.

Paul Chiasson also wonders why patients in the French-speaking health network are treated this way.

Are we second class citizens? Are we worth less than the other community?