Dirty conditions at RCH

Dear Editor:

Re: Son upset about hospital cleanliness issues, The Record, Jan. 9.

Congratulations to Maurizio Facchin for trying to bring up once again the lack of proper cleaning in our hospitals.

I can only speak to conditions at the Royal Columbian Hospital.

I had an aunt stay at RCH, and family members had to place rolled-up towels across the door in front of the bathroom to control the stench emanating from there.

Small insects, similar to fruit flies, were flying in and out of the room, and in and out of two rooms next door that had gown and mask instructions taped beside the door due to communicable disease inside.

During my own visit at RCH, a bed pan full of urine was left in the bathroom until the next afternoon. There was also a sticky substance all over the floor in front and inside the bathroom for my entire stay.

During my husband's visit to RCH, twice two garbage cans were full to overflowing and a nurse had to remove them.

I was visiting when the cleaner came in the room. She wiped at the wide window sill, not lifting anything out of her way. She straightened a chair in her path and left the room. She did not return. There was no attempt to clean or pick up anything that had been dropped on the floor and she did not even go into the bathroom.

Thus, I can only believe my standards cannot be quite the same as those of Westech Cleaning Auditors and really wonder if Fraser Health has any idea what their standards are.

L. Daddona, via email