Hallway medicine took away couple’s final moments together

Horwath says Ontario needs to make hallway medicine a priority

QUEEN’S PARK — Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said that the crisis of crowded hospitals has reached a boiling point, and it’s time for solutions — not cuts to health care.

Horwath spoke about Hamilton resident David Jones whose wife died in a hospital hallway while waiting for a bed at St. Joseph’s hospital.

“David was in crisis. His wife was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph’s hospital but when she arrived, she was left languishing on a bed in the emergency room hallway,” said Horwath. “When things took a turn for the worst, David’s wife was still waiting for a hospital room. His final moments with the person he chose to spend his life with were spent in a hallway, with no privacy and without the dignity they deserved.

“The hallway medicine crisis took away David’s only chance to say goodbye to his wife. No one should be forced to spend the final moments with a loved one in a hospital hallway. Donna and Dave deserved so much better. We need to change things so no one ever goes through what happened to David.”

Horwath said David’s heartbreaking story comes at a time when hospitals are routinely overcrowded and housing patients in waiting rooms and hospital hallways has become the standard — and has only gotten worse.

“We can make investments now that will bring a change for the better in Ontario and return hope to families,” said Horwath. “But Ford’s cuts and so-called health care efficiencies won’t get us there—it will only make things worse.”

“Will Mr. Ford reject the agenda of cuts and privatization and commit to investment in a health care system that desperately needs it?” asked Horwath Tuesday.

Ford continues to vow deep cuts, and didn’t change course Tuesday.