Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about the concerns of constituents regarding the lack of escorts for people who must be sent to hospital on medevac flights.
A constituent told me that at Christmas her husband was rushed to Yellowknife by plane in critical condition. He was in distress and not able to think or speak clearly. She was very worried and concerned about her husband, so she drove to Yellowknife as soon as possible. She reached the hospital some eight hours later. The doctor in charge was very relieved to see her as there had been no one to answer questions on her husband’s behalf. The doctor thought she should have been with her husband. As well, medical staff members were looking for her to sign required forms.
Recently there was a similar circumstance with another constituent from Fort Simpson who was sent to Edmonton without his spouse as an escort. It is concerning to me that spouses who are very ill and disoriented are being medevaced without their spouses to assist in providing necessary information to doctors and to understand medical forms that need signing. The patient is isolated, may be medicated, and cannot understand guidelines and medical procedures necessary for their treatment.
The other factor is that costs for spouses that travel after their partners are out-of-pocket expenses because they have not been assigned or designated as an escort. Their first thought is to be with their spouse and the second is to recover costs, which are often for a lengthy stay.
I raise these concerns because I am getting frequent occurrences. I urge the Minister of Health and Social Services to ensure that when spouses are in severe need of support from a spouse or close family member, that our medical staff designate them as an escort as needed.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
