An 82-year-old woman who was discharged from an Oshawa hospital to a motel in Bowmanville, Ontario, is speaking out about her experience, calling it 'disgusting.' Dorothy Spulnick spent several days in the hospital before being transferred to a motel room, where she says she received inadequate care and support.
Patient's ordeal
Spulnick described the motel as rundown and unsuitable for someone with her medical needs. 'I felt like I was abandoned,' she said. The hospital cited bed shortages as the reason for the discharge, but Spulnick's family argues that more should have been done to find appropriate accommodation.
Broader concerns
The incident comes amid what the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) calls a 'tsunami' of cuts at major Ontario hospitals, including London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). The ONA warns that such cuts are compromising patient care and leading to unsafe discharges.
According to the ONA, the number of patients discharged to motels has risen sharply in recent months, with at least 15 cases reported in the Durham region alone. 'This is a crisis,' said ONA President Angela Preocanin. 'Patients are being sent to places that are not equipped to provide medical care.'
Impact on families
Spulnick's daughter, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed frustration with the healthcare system. 'My mother deserved better,' she said. 'She needed rehabilitation, not a motel room.' The family is now considering legal action against the hospital.
The Ontario Ministry of Health has launched an investigation into the incident. In a statement, a spokesperson said, 'We are committed to ensuring that all patients receive safe and appropriate care. We are reviewing the circumstances of this case.'
