In Praise of Nurses

Today a twofer (and a bonus thought delivered with a wink).

First, some reflections made while preparing to pack up and go home...

I have been in the hospital for nearly four and a half months, most of it at Lions Gate Hospital 4 West, a subacute medical ward. While this article is about mental health, it is also about nurses. In short, there are not enough of them, they are grossly overworked, and it shows in real ways -- as when one needs a commode, the need is urgent, and the delay is half an hour.

There is a major contributing factor to the situation in 4 West -- namely between a dozen and 20 elderly patients, mostly men, who have dementia and nowhere else to go.

The ward is intended to cater to people with physical illnesses that require much different attention than do people with dementia.

Society is judged by the way it treats its more needy citizens. Dementia can be said to be a form of mental illness.

About 25 years ago I was diagnosed with depression and was lucky enough to have been in the care of now retired North Vancouver doctor Melvin Bruchet, who was thankfully knowledgeable about mental health. As I got my depression under control I vowed to try to help, which I have done. As such, I have learned a great deal and have no hesitation in saying that if physically ill people were treated like the mentally ill, the legislature would not be a safe place to be, given the protests that would be ongoing.

Here in the hospital ward where I am writing this, while people with dementia are waiting in acute care beds to ultimately be placed in a long-term care facility, they often become, speaking frankly, a nuisance to the staff and other patients. I watched as the head nurse, a woman with enormous responsibilities, had to tactfully and with some force eject one of these men from the office area. Later on, one of the patients had to be restrained in a chair due to his violent behaviour.

The solution is simple -- a special area for these patients with an entertainment centre and, I'm told, a minimum of assistance to supervise. The government says it can't afford to properly look after these mentally ill patients.

This all goes back to the 1970s, when a necessary increase in long-term care facilities was dramatically obvious to all in health care.

The closing of Riverview has been a disaster with sleepless beggars on our streets and misplaced mentally ill people unattended or ill-attended. As a society we should hang our heads in shame.

Item #2: The pampered politician

Let me make it clear, I have no time for the Mike Duffys and others in various positions of responsibility across the country who have abused the public purse and trust, and many continue to do so.

However, such recurring headlines cause me to reflect upon something I experienced first hand --the utter unpreparedness of most budding political celebrities to place in perspective the atmosphere they will enter.

In December 1975 I went from being a small town lawyer to an MLA and cabinet minister in the B.C. government. Suddenly everyone seemed to be bowing and scraping. I had a brand new car, my own parking space by my office and three personal assistants, not including deputies and office staff. From that moment on all travel and accommodations were first class.

In January 1977 Mel Smith, the deputy minister of constitutional affairs, and my assistant Tony Stark flew to what was then West Germany.

It was Sunday afternoon. I had partaken in the odd gin en route and was horrified to see that we were met by the Canadian ambassador to West Germany, a Mr. John Halstead, and two large black limousines, one for Mr. Halstead and me and the other for my companions.

We were duly registered in a posh hotel and the following noon the ambassador held a luncheon in my honor at the embassy, complete with suitable local dignitaries.

On the same trip we stayed in Lugano, Switzerland, at an establishment called the Hotel Splendide. In Europe, such a name usually implies a two-storey walkup dump. This however, lived up to its name and then some.

When Mel came from his room he was white -- it had two large bedrooms, a smaller bedroom, a living room, a dining area and a den.

"I have the wrong room, minister. I must have yours."

It turned out mine was even grander!

Let me pause before I continue to tell you that when provincial cabinet ministers travel abroad, all arrangements are made by the federal government.

On a later trip to Tokyo I was again greeted at the airport by two black limousines at the airplane. As in Bonn, all other passengers had to wait until we alighted, and I was greeted by the ambassador and his staff. Again, there was a large reception in my honour.

At the risk of being tiresome, this happened again when I went to Seoul, South Korea. The ambassador, Mr. Derek Burney, took me in the customary limousine to the embassy where the reception was about to begin.

Incidentally, the North Koreans were especially antsy at this time and I asked Mr. Burney how long it would take the North Korean troops to reach the embassy. "Depending on the traffic, 20 minutes to half an hour," was his reply.

Let me add one more factor.

When dealing with business people in any of these foreign lands the afternoon session is not ended by a trip to the local pub, but at the best bar in town, where scotch is $20 a drink.

In Asia, especially, one must stay in only the very best hotels.

I repeat my earlier statement. None of this excuses betrayal of public trust. However, for someone from Annapolis, Nova Scotia, Swift Current, Saskatchewan or Kamloops, B.C., it is a heady atmosphere which presents its temptations.

A final thought (with satirical wink)

Note to our enlightened federal officials: let's not merely downgrade protection of humpback whales off the B.C. coast, but make some money by selling them to the Japanese for experimental purposes.