CALGARY – A daughter is frustrated that her father couldn’t receive the care that may have prevented his death because hospital ICU capacity in Alberta is maxed out from COVID-19 patients.
Amy Mendenhall’s father, Richard Allan, became ill with a non-COVID-related illness earlier this month and was sent to Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre (RDRH) for treatment.
Richard’s health continued to deteriorate to the point he needed to be moved to an ICU bed. Unfortunately, ICU capacity at RDRH was full.
“They told us there were 28 patients in the ICU and they have 10 beds,” Mendenhall said.
“There was no option for him to get in.”
Not only was Allan denied access to the ICU, but he also wasn’t able to receive basic care because hospital staff are overworked.
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“He didn’t get a shower for two weeks. They aren’t cleaning as thoroughly. They aren’t able to get him ice chips,” Mendenhall said.
“They weren’t able to pay attention to him the way that, in an ICU bed, they would, and that COVID patients were getting.
“It makes me angry because I know it’s not just my dad.”
Mendenhall’s mother had to advocate for her husband because Richard wasn’t receiving the care he needed.
“I know she encountered some people who just did not want to help. They did not want to do this. They are so overworked and stretched so thin.”
“She’s been his caregiver at home for the past nine years, and now in a hospital with medically trained people suddenly she’s the caregiver there because they didn’t have the people to help him.”
Mendenhall hopes by sharing her story people will take the pandemic seriously and go out and get vaccinated, so they don’t experience what her family went through.
“This isn’t fake. There are real people being affected by this,” she said.
“If people trust the doctors enough to save their life when they get to the ICU then they need to trust the doctors and nurses telling them to get vaccinated, so they don’t get there.
“My dad didn’t deserve this. My dad deserved to still be here. I don’t know if he got the ICU care he would be here, but at least he would have had a fighting chance.”
