An injustice to hospital patients

Re: Number of ‘bed blockers’ at Ottawa Hospital continues to be problem, report states, June 27. We do an injustice to patients when we dehumanize them by using the term “bed blockers.”

At The Ottawa Hospital, we strive to provide the kind of compassionate care to patients that we would want for our loved ones. And that compassion comes when our physicians, nurses and other health professionals treat every patient as a person and not merely as a body occupying a bed.

It is true that The Ottawa Hospital must continue to work with other hospitals and community partners to find more appropriate settings for patients who no longer require acute care. But in the absence of safe and timely alternatives, these patients should not be blamed for remaining at our hospital. Dr. Jack Kitts, President and CEO, The Ottawa Hospital