Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the province has intervened to settle a $25,000 bill for a hotel where a social services agency placed patients recovering from hospital stays.
And she mentions that her government is working to find suitable housing for 39 clients of Contentment Social Services.
“We found that it was below standard. There's no doubt about it,” Smith stated at an unrelated news conference on Friday.
CBC reported that a stroke patient was recently discharged from the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton and taken to a Travelodge south of the city which could not accommodate his wheelchair. Additionally, he was given fast food and did not receive proper hygiene care.
Another family has also come forward to CBC stating that their family member was sent to another hotel in Leduc, the Park Inn, following a hospital stay.
An owner of that hotel informed CBC that Contentment Social Services rented 30 rooms, failed to pay its bills, and did not have people regularly caring for those guests.
Smith indicated that Seniors and Community and Social Services staff were on-site Thursday to resolve the situation.
“We covered the $25,000 unpaid bill with a credit card to ensure no one was evicted, and we will now begin the process of finding suitable support facilities,” said Smith.
“No one is going to be pushed out into a shelter.”
“No one will be forced out of a hotel without somewhere to go. I can assure you, if (Seniors and Community and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon) had not been on site yesterday and not intervened in that manner, then I dread to think what would have happened to those poor individuals.”
Smith mentioned that she understands Contentment Social Services, a non-profit housing provider, used to offer rental accommodations but turned to hotel rooms due to pest management issues and other concerns.
Norton Smith, president of Contentment, informed CBC that hotel rooms were a temporary measure in an overburdened system.
“When a request comes in, and (it’s) an urgent request because of the need for beds at the hospital … we do our best to accommodate,” he said.
He also informed CBC that patients are being well cared for.
“As far as we know, and what we have been experiencing, is that every person that we take care of, their loved ones are more than happy.”
On Thursday, Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange stated that Contentment would be removed from a list of support agencies provided to patients upon their discharge from the hospital.
The Opposition NDP mentioned in a release on Friday that the United Conservative Party government needs to accept more responsibility.
“Albertans have been subjected to the most ridiculous and embarrassing spectacle of a health minister refusing to take responsibility for the complete failures resulting in the motel-medicine crisis,” said continuing care critic Lori Sigurdson.
“When asked if anyone is checking to see if the places patients are being discharged to are acceptable, (LaGrange) didn’t know.
“When asked who made the list of agencies that included this particular social services provider, she didn’t know.
“When asked who sets the standards when it comes to discharge, she didn’t know.”
