Accusations of poor care and supposedly poor hygienic standards at LaSalle Hospital
In a concerning turn of events, patients and staff at Montreal's LaSalle Hospital in the LaSalle borough have raised serious concerns about the quality of care and sanitation in the rehabilitation ward. Donna Mehlenbacher, a former nurse and a current patient at the hospital, has been in rehabilitation for over two weeks. She shares her shock at the level of care she's receiving, having been left in soiled diapers multiple times, once for nearly 20 hours. Her daughter, Robin Mehlenbacher, reports that staff had to change the entire bed and wait for the mattress to dry. Jocelyne Brisebois, another patient, is equally disgusted by the dismal sanitary conditions and poor treatment in the hospital. She shares that her room wasn't cleaned for 16 days. These allegations have been backed up by an anonymous employee, who claims that food is often left out for days, the place is rarely cleaned, and patients are often neglected and ignored. Global News has observed evidence of this, with reports of dirty floors, trash under beds, overflowing garbage cans, and mouse traps in the common areas of the rehab ward. Chico Levy, another patient, has seen mice running around in the rooms and hallways. The head of the Montreal West Island CIUSSS responsible for the supervising management of the hospital is Dr. Denis Roy. The CIUSSS has stated that all reports are taken seriously and that prompt investigations and follow-ups are conducted. However, the patients and the employee have all complained to different people at the hospital, but nothing has changed. Paul Brunet, president and CEO of Quebec Council for Patients' Rights, worries that the problems extend beyond the rehab ward. He believes that these facilities, with their vulnerable patients and weakened immune systems, create the perfect climate for hospital-borne infections. Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé's spokesperson described the allegations as very worrying. Medical malpractice lawyer Patrick Martin-Ménard has seen similar conditions in other healthcare institutions. Room cleaning has been enhanced to ensure it meets the highest standards of quality and sanitation. However, it remains to be seen if these measures will effectively address the underlying issues of critical staff shortage, poor management, and low morale.
