Record-breaking temperatures have been welcomed by many, but the sudden change in the weather has been “torture” for some patients at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) over the last 48 hours
Adam Rowe said the “sauna-like conditions” in the patient rooms of the Harvie wing — the oldest part of OSMH — are a “nightmare” for both patients and staff.
His mom, Kathy Robinson-Rowe, is suffering from organ failure and does not have long to live.
“We can’t make her comfortable,” said Rowe, who noted the thermostat in her room read 25.6 degrees Celsius at 8 a.m. Friday. “My mom is literally soaked in sweat. How is that fair for someone who is dying?”
He said because of his mom’s condition, he and other visitors have to wear gowns and masks, making the heat even more unbearable. On top of that, the hospital forbids fans due to fear of spreading germs.
“There aren’t blinds, so we’ve hung some bed sheets on the windows to try to keep the sun out,” he explained. “It’s ridiculous.”
Rowe and his wife, Kayla, have sought answers from the staff but have not been given much information.
He said they can’t move his mom because there are no available rooms in the overcrowded hospital.
“If this was happening in an old-age home, it would be elder abuse,” he said. “It’s so frustrating. My mom is not being given the dignity she deserves.”
Rowe said the nursing staff have been “incredible and never complain. I just can’t say enough about how good they’ve been. To do the job they do … in these conditions is not easy.”
Glen Allen, director of facilities at OSMH, said the situation should be improving imminently.
“With the rapid increase in outside temperatures over the past 48 hours, our temperature-control systems have had a difficult time making the necessary adjustments from heating to cooling, resulting in some areas of the hospital experiencing unusually warm conditions for both patients and staff,” he said.
He noted inside temperatures have reached up to 26 C in areas such as Harvie 2, “where temperature controls remain an ongoing challenge for the hospital.”
He said the situation affecting Harvie 2 “has now been resolved and we are monitoring to ensure the temperature drops appropriately.”
“Thank you to everyone for your patience as we work to ensure a comfortable environment for all,” he said.
