Patient complaints serious matter

Re Patients afraid to complain about health care: report, Nov. 9 Five years ago I had a double-knee replacement. If I had known what I would be subjected to, I would have cancelled the surgery.

A couple of weeks after my discharge, a young lady phoned me to take a survey. I very politely told her my story. She was shocked, apologized and told me she would pass on my info to a supervisor. She hoped I would hear back, but discreetly implied “not to hold my breath.”

What really saddened and angered me was the fact that I spoke English and tried to stick up for myself, but what of all the immigrants who didn’t have that benefit? I lay in that bed for HOURS one night, needing a bed pan and listening to some poor soul crying out for help. I can’t begin to explain the helplessness and anger I felt that I couldn’t go see that other patient. As to my own need, I’ll leave it to your imagination as to what happened.

I’m old enough to have experienced, in the past, excellent medical care. That’s why I’ll carry this anger to my grave . . . because my generation already knows the truth. Sophie Tanel, Vaughan