A Cape Breton paramedic is sounding the alarm on what he calls “a broken health care system.”
Paramedic Adam Hussey was driving 90 km/h down the highway when a man suddenly jumped in front of his vehicle.
“I seen what I thought was a hitch hiker. I felt guilty about not wanting to pick him up and next thing I knew he was directly in my path,” recalls Hussey.
Hussey narrowly avoided the 25-year-old man, who Hussey says was trying to end his own life.
“After I convinced him to get in the car, he started to cry and started telling me he didn't feel anyone cared,” says Hussey.
Hussey took the man to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. After explaining to nurses what had happened, he learned the man had been discharged from the hospital hours earlier because there was not enough room.
“He needed more help then he could get,” says Hussey. “He wasn't ready to be discharged. He was serious; this was as serious as a heart attack, as serious as a stroke. He needed help and that was that.”
Hussey says it's obvious the health care system is flawed, and patients are falling through the cracks. He says the doctor-shortage is only making things worse.
“My question is what are they doing to actually intrigue doctors to come here? We are a rural community, what are you doing to spark interest? What are you doing to retain doctors?”
The Nova Scotia Health Authority declined to comment on a specific case, but offered this statement to CTV news:
“Each patient is different and has different needs. A care plan works to meet those needs. Care plans cover a number of treatment options including referral to the on-call psychiatrist, inpatient admission or discharge with outpatient follow-up, if applicable.”
Hussey says he remains deeply-concerned about the man. The last time he saw him, the man told Hussey he would continue trying to end his life.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Kyle Moore
