High praise for The Ottawa Hospital staff | Letters to the Editor

Letter writers say the care they received at The Ottawa Hospital General campus "was phenomenal in every way". Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA

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High praise for The Ottawa Hospital staff

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My 79-year-old husband with Parkinson’s recently spent two stints at The Ottawa Hospital General campus under crisis situations. Yes, we spent close to 12 hours in emergency each time. Part of that time was spent waiting to see a doctor, with the rest spent sitting tight while we waited for a badly needed hospital bed. The care we received in a crazy-busy emergency department was outstanding in every way. I was amazed at the stress emergency staff operate under, yet they remained cool, calm and compassionate.

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Once admitted, we spent seven days on 6th Floor West, where we also received outstanding care at every turn — and this was a heavy medical ward with people sicker than my husband.

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We got ourselves discharged, though not with great news. But having someone with Parkinson’s lie horizontal for seven days is about the worst thing you can do. We left with a catheter, and he was slowly gaining his strength back. Unfortunately, as is common, he developed an infection and, after six days, ended up back in emergency in dire straits yet again.

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This time, we were admitted to 8th Floor West, another heavy medical ward where, again, the care we received was phenomenal in every way. I can’t praise all staff enough. And when I say staff, I mean not only the doctors and nurses, but ward administration staff, the PSWs, the cleaners and the people who deliver and pick up hospital meals. The PSWs, in particular, I think, do not receive the recognition and praise they so richly deserve.

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Is there room for improvement? Absolutely. But I challenge anyone involved in cutting any health-care staff to spend a week confined to a bed, with none or limited family support (not in our case), and then decide if they really want to approve those cuts.

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Erin Scullion and Douglas McKercher, Ottawa

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Propellers for the Snowbirds? Pathetic

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It is utterly embarrassing and disgusting that the Snowbirds’ chosen replacement aircraft is to be a propeller aircraft and that the Snowbirds will be shelved for several years.

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The Snowbirds are Canadian ambassadors around the world, and for them to perform with non-jet-propelled aircraft is pathetic and restricts their ability to perform to the pilots’ skill level and creativity.

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For there to be such a long delay (the replacement CT-157 Siskin II planes are to arrive in the early 2030s) displays the lack of critical planning and true Canadian pride the government is showing towards this elite international performance team.

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Michael Blais, Ottawa

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A 12-year-old speaks up, and we should listen

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What a refreshing letter by 12-year-old Isla McClelland. She calls on us all to think of her generation of the future as climate disasters continue to strike all areas of our world.

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We regrettably see more emphasis on the arms race that destroys, pollutes and kills many people and nature around the world.