Dear Editor:
I am a 69 year old retired Yorkton Regional Health Centre employee. On March 13, 2013, as her sole caregiver, I brought my 88 year old, 150 lb., disabled mother in for an EGD slated for 10 a.m., after she had been seen in the Emergency Department on the day previously. In order to drop her off, I brought her as close to the Admitting Department door as possible and helped her maneuver her walker to a point where I could get her a wheelchair. Because she was in a fair amount of pain, I couldn't leave her alone for long, so I parked her handicap-marked car in a handicapped employee parking spot that I have not seen used by anyone in years. I then helped her at the Admitting Department and wheeled her up to the third floor Endoscopy unit, a distance she could not make with her walker. Because of her discomfort, I stayed with her until she was taken in for her procedure. Parking the car in the general parking lot handicapped area entailed driving back out onto the road, doubling back and hoping I could get a spot close by, then walking back what might be a distance back and up the slope to the hospital. I have been recently placed on anti-hypertensives by Dr. Lawali. These haven't yet kicked in completely and under stress, my blood pressure reaches stroke and heart attack risk levels (193/115) and, with all factors taken into consideration, I chose to remain where I had originally parked. When my mother's procedure was over, she was somewhat groggy and unsteady and again needed to be able to be transferred directly to the car from her wheelchair. As I was picking her and her walker up at the Hospital door again, I found the enclosed $10 ticket on her car.
There are no words to describe the ridiculous new parking layout at the hospital and the hardships it imposes on the handicapped and frail. There are inadequate numbers of handicapped spaces, all of which should be closer to the hospital itself and not at the bottom of a slope a considerable distance away. Entrance to the lot at the far end is awkward and the parking fees are exorbitant. For people who have difficulty walking or breathing, the uphill slope is difficult. The designer of this nightmare scenario should be reminded that this is a hospital in a relatively small town with a lot of older and frail people - and not a pricey resort with an ocean view, filled with energetic tourists.
Lorraine Moth
Ebenezer, SK
