A 64-year-old patient spent more than a day lying on the ground outside Montfort Hospital in Ottawa after leaving the mental health unit where she was staying, according to her daughter.
Christina Hajjar explained that her mother left Hôpital Montfort wearing nothing but clothes and slippers.
About 27 hours passed before police found the woman, according to her daughter.
Ms. asked. Hajjar told his mother what he had been doing for that long time, before he was discovered.
He replied, “I prayed and I screamed and I prayed and I screamed some more. And when I couldn’t scream anymore, I just thought I was going to die there.”
Found near the hospital
Ms Hajjar first learned that her mother had left the hospital when staff called her around 2 pm on June 10 to report that she had been released and would not return.
The Hospital told her they were looking for her mother, but Ms Hajjar later found out that she had in fact disappeared about five hours ago.
Si Ms. Hajjar was not involved in the research, which was installed in Brampton, and when he only received a positive result for a screening test for COVID-19, he said.
At the end of the day on Friday, however, Ms. Hajjar to call Ottawa police. Then, when he woke up on Saturday with no news, he reported his mother missing.
Ottawa police confirmed they received a call just after 9:30 a.m. Saturday about a 64-year-old woman missing at a hospital on Montreal Road.
The woman was later found by police, near the hospitalat 12:12 p.m. and underwent a medical checkup from paramedics, police said.
The hospital very worried in this absence
A spokesman for Hôpital Montfort said the health facility was very worried in this situation and apologize to the patient and his family. CBC News decided not to name the patient to protect his privacy.
The hospital also decided to conduct an internal investigation, according to an emailed statement.
It is important for us to understand what happened and evaluate everything that can be done to prevent this type of situation from happening again.it says.
The hospital’s policy regarding missing patients states that staff first search the unit where the person was admitted, then to other wards, including locked areas, and then to hospital grounds. Hospital, the spokesman added.
The spokesman did not say whether the Hospital contacted police in the matter or where exactly the woman was found and why she was not seen when staff searched the scene, saying this information was helpful. part of the internal investigation.
A mental health condition brittle after this test
Paige LennoxPresident and CEO of Canadian Health Advocates Inc.., who has been a registered nurse for 28 years, said she would have contacted police if anything was missing while being treated in her unit.
I was a bit surprised that the Hospital did not play a more active role in finding itone responded that the company helps people navigate the health care system.
He was looking for the situation worriedbecause it is particularly important for staff to monitor frail patients, such as those admitted to a mental health service.
Mrs. explained. Hajjar that his mother was admitted to the hospital on May 21 and never left. He said he has spoken to Montfort Hospital officials since the incident and said he believes the hospital is taking the matter seriously.
The incident had a big impact on his mother, he continued.
As a result, his mental health became more fragilehe says. It’s just really worse.
With information from Dan Taekema ng CBC News
Radio CanadaGerald Fillion
Source: Radio-Canada
