CALGARY- Alberta’s health minister has ordered an investigation into a Lethbridge care facility, after word a staff member found mice nibbling at a patient’s face.
The incident happened at St. Therese Villa in Lethbridge on Sept.1, to a woman suffering from dementia.
Friends of Medicare, a health advocacy group, says the woman was bitten and has since been treated and given medication to prevent infection. Since the woman has disabilities, she would not have been able to move the mice off of her face.
A mice nest was later found in her closet, despite staff at the 200-bed facility operated by Covenant Health complaining about rodents a year ago. The centre also had a bedbug infestation.
“I did send inspection teams from both Alberta Health Services and my department to the site,” says Health Minister Fred Horne. “They are there now. They have begun an investigation into the conditions in the facility.”
He has also ordered an investigation under the ‘protection for persons in care’ act.
“My hope is that by ordering this investigation, we’ll make it clear to everyone that we want the information – that people are free to tell their story, that they actually be encouraged to bring their concerns forward.
“What has concerned me, is the fact that it has been reported that employees, staff in St. Therese, have tried to bring this issue and other issues to the attention of their management – and that their concerns have not been heard.”
Horne adds that AHS officials will also head to the centre to monitor operations, and has asked the associate minister of seniors to tour the province and meet with staff from a number of facilities to identify issues in continuing care.
With files from Canadian Press
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