Dad says 5-year-old turned away from Lakeshore General Hospital

POINTE-CLAIRE – When five-year-old Peter slashed open his chin, his father Kostas Kotsopoulos rushed him to the Lakeshore General Hospital.

“We arrived there at 5:15 p.m., at 7:30 p.m. they told us within the hour, someone should be able to see us,” he said.

“The hours just kept on going by and by.”

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After seven hours of waiting, and with a tired and injured child, Kotsopoulos never thought he’d hear this:

“At midnight, we were told to go home as if nothing happened,” said Kotsopoulos.

“You got an open wound under your chin and no doctor is willing to see you.”

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Kotsopoulos said he was told he was at the wrong hospital since the Lakeshore General Hospital is not a children’s hospital.

“Who wants to see their child get hurt? I couldn’t take care of him,” Kotsopoulos said while choking up.

“I’m his father. I’m supposed to be able to take care of him and (that) didn’t happen.”

The hospital wouldn’t speak on camera or comment on the case, but admitted Sunday was an unusually busy night.

The hospital also said that although they’re not a specialized children’s hospital they should be able to take care of injuries like Peter’s.

“If the patient is below a certain age, some hospitals aren’t able to take care of them properly,” explained Dr. Mitch Shulman, Global News’ medical expert and an emergency room doctor.

Shulman said that is because certain hospitals don’t have the right equipment.

“If you want that kid to get the best possible care, you want them to go to a hospital or to a clinic or to a centre which is specialized in managing children,” he added.

Kotsopoulos insisted the hospital system is not clear enough and things need to be changed.

“I didn’t even realize you needed to go somewhere depending on (what) the situation is,” he said.

“A hospital is a hospital.”

Kostopolous’ son was finally seen at the Sainte Justine Hospital, but before he took his son for some well deserved rest, he wanted to send a message to hospital authorities.

“Do something, whoever you are,” he said.

The Lakeshore General Hospital said any concerns should be taken to its complaints commissioner.