Quesnel senior Denise Tessier plans to continue her hospital protest until a date is set for her knee-replacement surgery.
Tessier, 69, on Monday staged a demonstration in the lobby of the University Hospital of Northern B.C. in Prince George after getting what she felt was a runaround for almost three years on when she can expect the elective surgery.
Hospital officials met Monday with Tessier, but she said nothing was resolved.
“The upshot is basically we did not get anywhere,” Tessier said.
Due to her painful knee and fatigue, Tessier said she was planning on sleeping at a friend’s house and would be back at the hospital to continue the protest today.
“I want a date nailed down for the surgery so at least I can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” she said.
Tessier said it is time the government pumped extra money into the health-care system to end the long wait times for elective surgeries. “The operating rooms are not being utilized,” she said of the problem in the northern part of B.C.
In constant pain, Tessier said her protest is a last-ditch attempt to get someone to listen to the crisis faced by many seniors who need joint replacement.
“This is stressful,” she said of taking her protest public. “But I want my life back.”
Anne Chisholm, the health-services administrator for Prince George, said she could not comment on Tessier’s specific concerns, citing patient privacy.
Chisholm said a typical wait for joint replacement is 26 weeks or less. In northern B.C., Chisholm said, 31 patients have been waiting for longer than 52 weeks for elective surgeries such as hip and knee replacements. “We don’t like anybody waiting,” she said.
As for Tessier, Chisholm noted: “We are working directly with her to address her concerns.”
She also said there is no immediate intention to kick Tessier out of the hospital. “I know we need to take this situation one day at a time,” she said.
