YARMOUTH, N.S. –
Kristen Hayes’ son has a rare form of epilepsy called Dravet Syndrome, a condition that began with seizures when he was eight months old.
Sometimes 12-year-old Jakob’s seizures give him a high fever and he needs help in a hospital.
“In those cases, we really feel like we need to be somewhere if there is immediate help if needed,” Hayes says.
Hayes lives near the hospital in Yarmouth, NS, but says that twice in the last month, her son was taken by ambulance to the emergency room there, only to be left waiting.
Four weeks ago, he had three seizures and a high fever, and was rushed to the hospital. During the trip, Hayes says paramedics had to administer rescue medication to his son after he had a fourth seizure.
He says that when the ambulance arrived, it was turned away because there weren’t enough staff to attend to him. Hayes says it was only with the help of a paramedic that the hospital took him in.
Then last Friday, her son had a seizure at summer camp. The camp called 911 and again Jakob was taken to the hospital. There, Hayes says that he couldn’t believe the wait.
“We went in and the paramedics had to stay with us for probably close to two hours before he could be put in a room to be seen by a doctor.”
His biggest fear is that Dravet Syndrome could result in what is known as Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP).
She says the pandemic and being in a rural area are no excuse for a system that is left strained and understaffed.
“As a parent of a child with epilepsy or any other health condition, it’s very hard to think that they might not get the help they need because it’s not available nearby,” says Hayes.
Nova Scotia Health website shows a long list of temporary closures of emergency departments across the province, some overnight and others for several days.
The health authority says it’s down to staffing shortages caused by COVID-19, summer vacation time and vacancies.
“We continue to really focus our efforts on recruitment and retention so that we can really minimize any superficial disruption to the zone and the province,” says Alyson Lamb, executive director of the Western Zone.
Western Zone’s medical director, Dr. Cheryl Pugh, says they often change staff to make sure areas are covered, and that paramedics and other services are part of the equation.
“There are always care providers available to provide care, they may not be immediately in your community, but there is a chance to access emergency services,” she says.
Lamb encourages Nova Scotians in need of emergency medical help to call 911 or go to the nearest available emergency department.
In the meantime, Hayes has been speaking about her experiences online in hopes of encouraging the provincial government to address the crisis.
“There’s been an overload of doctors, nurses and paramedics for a long time, but I feel like it’s getting worse,” says Hayes.
She says that while medical personnel have been working hard and doing their best, what is needed is for the government to provide adequate resources to relieve the current pressure.