Seniors invited to ER services meeting

Posted Jan 26, 2012 By EMC News

Kanata Seniors Council

EMC News - Seniors are invited to attend a meeting about emergency services at the Queensway Carleton hospital on Feb. 9.

The meeting will give attendees the chance to raise concerns, discuss problems they may have encountered in the hospital's emergency department and offer suggestions as to how the system could be improved.

The meeting will be held at the Kanata Seniors Centre, 2500 Campeau Dr., from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

Dr. Chris Winkle, vice president of the Queensway Carleton hospital board, approached the Kanata Seniors Council to see if members would be interested hosting an event to discuss any issues and offer solutions about the hospital's emergency department.

"He was interested in getting our seniors' community working with him to see if the present system can be improved and made more patient-friendly," said Judy Anderson, a long-time Kanata Seniors Council board member. "He's very much aware that there are some really negative experiences out there but he doesn't want just to hear about these incidents, he also wants to hear from us seniors as to how things might be improved for both parties - seniors and the hospital."

Anderson admits that she was "surprised and delighted" to be approached by Winkle.

"It shows that the hospital is really serious about working for the very large, diverse community of seniors residing in Kanata," she said.

"I hope that anybody who has had a bad experience and may have some ideas as to how things could be improved won't lose any time in reserving a place so they can be sure of having their say."

Those interested in participating should call the Kanata Seniors Centre office at 613-254-7164 and leave their name and phone number to be sure of a place in the meeting.