Man praises care, compassion received from staff
Brantford resident Bob Ion cannot recall the last time he was admitted to the Brantford General Hospital.
“I was born at the BGH in 1949,” Ion said. “Our family physician was Dr. Frank Clarke who delivered my sisters Susan and Joanne, and my late brother Tommy.
“Other than some X-rays and visiting friends and relatives in the hospital, I have been very fortunate with my health.”
Ion attended Dufferin Public School and Brantford Collegiate Institute. When he graduated, he apprenticed at the Hamilton Spectator where he worked for 35 years until his retirement as pre-press manager 16 years ago.
On Thanksgiving weekend Ion returned to the BGH, this time in an ambulance.
“I woke up early Saturday morning with severe abdominal pain and a very high fever,” Ion recalled. “It was so bad that my wife Jane, decided to call for an ambulance. This turned out to be the best decision.”
What took place for Ion over the following five days was an eye opener to say the least.
“I spent Saturday on a stretcher in the emergency department. They placed me on an intravenous drip, brought my pain under control, and conducted numerous tests,” Ion said.
Late on the Saturday evening, Ion was admitted to the hospital where for the next several days the staff worked to stabilize his condition.
“They identified I had suffered a gall bladder attack and needed to determine if I could undergo surgery,” Ion said. “I remained on a clear fluid diet while Dr. Schnider, a surgeon, monitored me.”
For the next five days Ion was restricted to a bed. He could not get over how busy the hospital was and how hard everyone was working. “We hear the stories, but until I experienced it firsthand, I had no idea just how demanding the situation is for people working at the BGH.”
On the following Wednesday afternoon Ion was transferred to a different unit which brought a smile to his face.
“The hospital was so busy that I was moved to the labor and delivery unit,” he laughed. “This was not the birthing unit Jane and I were in many years ago when our children were born. Today’s birth suites are beautiful.
“As luck would have it, that evening a baby was born in the next room. That was amazing.”
About 6:30 on the Thursday morning, Schnider visited Ion and said he was doing much better. Surgery was arranged for early that afternoon. By 5:30 Ion was back home in his own bed.
“The entire time I was hospitalized Jane and I received outstanding care and compassion from everyone,” Ion said. However, there was something that certainly upset Ion.
“The amount of abuse by patients and families to the staff was unacceptable. They are doing their job in very unusual circumstances. The hospital is here to help us and everyone’s kindness is appreciated.”
Hospital Insider is written by Gary Chalk who assists with communications for the Brant Community Healthcare System.