Dear Editor:
It was with considerable concern that I read your Jan. 13 story, Nurses Protest Hospital Staff Levels, in which a number of inaccurate claims were made about patient care at Lions Gate Hospital.
We want your readers to be aware of the level of attention to detail that our healthcare team provides to ensure quality patient care is maintained at LGH.
This quality patient care comes from our dedicated teams who are also skilled in managing the peaks of patient demands (volumes), which have occurred recently during the current flu and viral outbreak seasons. It's at times like these that our staff's diligence in following comprehensive infection-control practices has its greatest impact on protecting our patients and families.
There were also concerns expressed regarding nurse training and safety issues. Our nurses receive education prior to working on a particular nursing unit or area, as well as ongoing in-service instruction during their LGH career.
As far as nursing recruitment is concerned, there is active recruitment underway here at LGH and we are currently recruiting both experienced nurses and new grads.
We want the thousands of patients and their families who come through the doors of LGH in need of help to be confident they will continue to receive the same great care they've become accustomed to over the years.
Leanne Appleton, director of acute care services, VCH-Coastal North Vancouver
