Patient-care hurting at hospital: doctors

Doctors at the Dr. Georges-L Dumont Hospital in Moncton say patient care is suffering because of poor management, according to documents obtained by Radio-Canada.

Doctors raised a wide range of concerns, according to minutes of a meeting in March between 57 doctors and the administrators of Regional Health Authority A.

Dr. Richard Garceau, a microbiologist, said the doctors are frustrated and he accuses management of mismanaging the hospital.

The doctors also complain of long waiting lists and of services being moved to The Moncton Hospital and some say they're burnt out or depressed and that patient care is suffering.

The minutes say the head of the health authority promises to look into these issues.

The Georges-L Dumont Hospital is the largest in RHA A. The 302-bed facility is a tertiary-care hospital and has almost 200 doctors.

More patients in corridors

The doctors also told managers how more patients are being housed in corridors or in situations that were less than ideal.

One patient had to stay in the TV room next to the microwave where people warm up their lunch.

Meanwhile, another patient with an intravenous line was kept in a meeting room with no emergency call button.

Dr. Louise Thibault, a microbiologist, told managers it takes forever to buy basic equipment.

Specifically, she said it took her 14 months to get a fridge for her laboratory.

There are also complaints that receptionists are not replaced, the building is dirty and in need of repairs.

One specialist said the ceiling in one of the operating rooms is threatening to fall down because of a lack of screws.

In another case a patient had to spend an extra 45 minutes under anesthesia because of a lack of a certain type of scalpel.