In March, Terry Farrell of the Comox Valley was diagnosed with stage three metastasized melanoma after discovering a lump near his left collarbone.

After a few harrowing months, following numerous visits to various health-care facilities across the Island, the man underwent surgery on Sept. 6. 

The procedures went smoothly, explained Farrell, and the medical staff successfully removed the cancerous mass. He walked out of the hospital with a wound that required 65 staples to close.

Unfortunately for him, several days later, his laceration necrotized and Farrell was told to return to the Royal Jubilee Hospital.

Back in the capital city, the man checked into the emergency room. After a long wait, he was moved to a room that left him feeling exasperated.

鈥淲hen the nurses first moved me in鈥� there was no bed because it's not even registered as a room in the hospital,鈥� said Farrell in an interview with Black Press Media on Sept. 19. 鈥淚t's a sunroom. This is just unacceptable.鈥�

He noted the room lacked a call bell and running water. Without a washroom, Farrell was provided with a commode chair.

鈥淸I was] somewhat disgusted. I mean, there's no dignity in having this chair.鈥�

I鈥檝e just been moved from a proper hospital room at RJH in Victoria to my new accommodations, the Sun Room,鈥� a general lounging area with no facilities.
At least they transferred my bed with me. This is my toilet. How is this acceptable, ?
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鈥� Island life (blue checkmark) 馃嚚馃嚘馃彸锔忊�嶐煂� (@TerryAFarrell)

While Farrell recognized the staff's reasoning for their decision, he questioned the principle of placing patients in such conditions.

鈥淚 get why they put me here; I can walk to the washroom,鈥� said Farrell. 鈥淭he issue is that nobody should be in here. This is not a hospital room.鈥�

Though Farrell repeatedly praised the nurses for their work and care, he stated the issues stemmed from deeper systemic failure, adding that such conditions are unacceptable in a province as wealthy as B.C.

鈥淭his province spends billions of dollars every year on healthcare,鈥� said Farrell. 鈥淲here is that money going if it's not going toward the health care of the constituents? I can think of a whole lot of paychecks going to people who would never dare sit on a toilet like that, in a hospital room, and be asked to crap there for four days."

鈥淚f we're lacking the facilities, build the facilities and forget about bidding on the World Cup. Start taking care of your constituents.鈥�

Hearing about Farrell鈥檚 experience, Adriane Gear, BC Nurses鈥� Union president, echoed his concerns. Although she couldn鈥檛 comment on this specific situation, she described it as substandard.

鈥淚t's very unfortunate,鈥� said Gear. 鈥淚 know nurses do their very best to still try to provide patients with as much dignity as possible and to protect their privacy, but it is less than ideal.鈥�

Royal Jubilee's Room S723 has been highlighted in the news multiple times over the past few years for the same issues Farrell raised. Gear noted that, to this day, the health authority has not made any improvements to bring the room up to industry standards.

鈥淚 can confirm there's still no call bells [and] there's still no oxygen,鈥� said Gear. 

Noting the rapid growth and aging population in B.C. over the past decade, Gear mentioned these factors have placed additional pressure on a system that is already beyond its capacity.

However, Gear believes this does not justify placing patients in 'unconventional' rooms while awaiting or following treatment.

鈥淭he reality of nurses is that they are constantly challenged to provide the best care possible for their patients with limited resources,鈥� said Gear. 鈥淚t's concerning that the hospital continues to rely on unconventional spaces. We have more demands on the system than we have beds. What is the health authority doing to upgrade these spaces to make them appropriate for patients?鈥�

Similar to Farrell, Gear argued this case represents larger systemic issues.

鈥淭his underscores the need to invest in health care,鈥� said Gear. 鈥淎t the end of the day, if society values health care, we need to continue investing in the publicly funded system. We need human resources, but we also need capital investments.鈥�

After Farrell, who has been the Comox Valley Record editor for the past decade, said he planned to speak to the media, hospital staff transferred him to another room. Although he was able to advocate for himself, the man voiced concerns for those who might not have the same opportunity due to their medical conditions or fear of speaking out.

鈥淚f I just sat here and accepted it I wouldn't have been moved,鈥� said Farrell. 鈥淚'm in a very fortunate position that I'm not so injured and not so sick that I can advocate for myself and I take that very seriously.鈥�

Black Press Media reached out to Island Health for comment. 

鈥淒uring the provincial election and interregnum period鈥� health authority communications are limited to critical health and public safety information,鈥� reads their email sent on Sept. 23. 鈥淲hile Island Health can not speak to confidential patient details, in general when patients are temporarily moved out of private rooms, we make every effort to move them back to a room as soon as possible.鈥�

Black Press Media contacted the Ministry of Health but did not receive a response by the deadline.