A former nurse and nursing professor says Fredericton's Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital has a number of problems when it comes to patient care and she blames recent government cuts.
Penny Ericson spent a significant amount of time in the Fredericton hospital while her husband Carl was being treated before his death earlier this year.
Penny Ericson, a former nursing professor at the University of New Brunswick, said the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital in Fredericton has a number of problems when it comes to patient care. (CBC) She outlined her concerns and observations in a lengthy document that she sent to officials at the Horizon Health Network, the Department of Health and the New Brunswick Nurses Union.
Ericson said she was shocked at the lack of proper cleaning in the hospital's hallways, washrooms and cafeterias. She said the problem goes beyond the staff assigned to the work.
"People are doing jobs for which they are not properly supervised. They come to work to do a good job. But they don't have systems in place to let them do that," Ericson told the CBC's Information Morning Fredericton.
"The housekeeping staff were friendly, they would attend to my requests, however, they don't have the ability to properly clean the environment because they haven't been told what needs to be cleaned and they don't have the equipment to clean it properly."
'So they have saved money but they've saved money, as far as I'm concerned, in the wrong places because they've compromised quality.'— Penny Ericson
Ericson said she blames the health authority's board for not providing experienced supervisors to ensure the work is done properly.
"I put everything squarely on the shoulders of the board. The hospital has focused on saving money because the government has put them in that position," she said.
"The government has said, 'You must live within your means, you must live within a tight budget.' So they have saved money but they've saved money, as far as I'm concerned, in the wrong places because they've compromised quality."
The Horizon Health Network announced earlier this year plans to cut 131 jobs as a part of a broader plan to reduce spending by almost $22 million in 2013-14.
In April, John McGarry, the president and chief executive officer of the Horizon Health Network, said the organization's financial challenge is "substantial" but that "less money does not have to mean a reduction in the quality of the services we provide."
The provincial government's health-care budget in 2013-14 is $2.5 billion, representing zero growth over last year.
Document meant as a 'teaching tool'
Ericson is a former nurse and a nursing professor at the University of New Brunswick. She also ran unsuccessfully for the NDP in the 2003 provincial election.
Ericson outlined a number of concerns about the cleanliness of the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital. (CBC) Ericson's 27-page document was sent to John McGarry, the president and chief executive officer of the Horizon Health Network, and was called, "Carl Ericson's Last Class."
"The following report has been written as a teaching tool as well as a report to highlight the need for changes. Carl was a teacher. It is a hope that this 'last class' will teach those in administrative positions to make changes that will be consistent with the goals of Horizon Health," Ericson's document said.
"There were many examples of good care during Carl's hospitalization, but this report's focus is on the shortcomings observed by those involved. The report has been written in the best interest of providing constructive criticism that may lead to enhanced patient care."
Ericson's document also stressed it has been created "as a learning/teach tool, not as evidence for litigation."
Penny Ericson document (PDF)
Penny Ericson document (Text)
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