Winnipeg family denied hospital room visit due to unvaccinated patient sharing room
A Winnipeg family is speaking out after not being able to visit their loved one in hospital because they were transferred into a room with an unvaccinated patient.
Sabrina Foxworthy's sister was admitted into the Health Sciences Centre ICU on July 8 with life-threatening injuries.
"We were able to visit because it was so life and death, and she may very well pass away," said Foxworthy.
After about two weeks in intensive care, Foxworthy's sister was moved to a step-down unit and given a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
"So when she had her second dose, they said once she was out of the step-down unit and into a regular unit, and was two weeks past the second dose, we could start visiting again," Foxworthy said.
Once the two weeks passed, Foxworthy was able to visit her sister until she was moved without the family knowing.
"My mom walked into what she thought was my sister's hospital room, and there was somebody else, at which point [the hospital] said they had moved her and was now in the rehab portion of the hospital," said Foxworthy.
"[My mother] finally got to the correct area of the hospital and was then told she can't visit her because she was roomed with an unvaccinated person."
According to Foxworthy, after much fuss, the nurses were able to bring her sister to meet her mother instead of the mother going into the room.
"It's made us feel like we are completely being lied to by the government," said Foxworthy.
"We got vaccinated. We patiently waited two weeks for my sister's second dose. And now, if someone doesn't want to get vaccinated in my sister's room, then we can't visit."
A day after the incident, Foxworthy's sister was moved to a room with other vaccinated patients. The family, however, now fears visitation could be taken away at any time.
"We have this looming threat that she could get moved to another room or someone can come in, and you can't see her anymore. That really doesn't sit well with us. I don't think that sits well with anybody," Foxworthy said.
According to a Shared Health document dated June 18, hospital visits can occur in some areas if both the patient and the visitor are fully vaccinated.
“Visits may occur in the patient’s room if physical distancing can be maintained between visitor and inpatient and if all patients present are fully vaccinated (if a shared room),” the policy reads. “If a room is not large enough for physical distancing to be maintained or if another patient in a shared room has not been fully immunized, the facility will determine if another location can be accommodated for the visit. This consideration will also include an assessment of whether it is safe to move the patient to another location."
Foxworthy believes the policy creates more tension between people around the vaccine.
"If the reason is to protect the unvaccinated person, then that's problematic because they made a choice. To have their rights trump my sister's rights to a visitor is wrong," Foxworthy said.
"It feels like it's a constant pitting between the (vaccinated) and (unvaccinated). People have the right to choose what to do, but this is continuing to create a divide."
In a statement to CTV News, Shared Health said, "We recognize the emotional strain that visitor restrictions have had on patients/residents and their loved ones throughout the pandemic and acknowledge the current concerns expressed by individuals via your organization."
Shared Health said it could not comment directly on the situation due to privacy laws.
It did note that its policies are reviewed regularly during the pandemic.
"Visitation principles have been regularly reviewed throughout the past 18 months by infection prevention and control experts, in an effort to find a balance between the known risks of the virus and the valuable connections patients crave from loved ones."
Shared Health said patients and loved ones with questions or concerns about visitation should contact the appropriate facility or health region's patient relations department.
As for Foxworthy, she worries about her sister not being able to get visitors.
"It's a significant impact on their mental health, well-being and healing," said Foxworthy. "Especially someone in my sister's condition. She can't text or hold a phone because her entire body is in a cast. To not have human [visits] or contact is wrong."
-With files from CTV’s Kayla Rosen
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW With the U.S. election approaching, could American voters in Canada make a difference?
With the U.S. election widely predicted to be a close race, some believe American voters in Canada and overseas will be crucial in helping elect the new president about a month from now.
Canadian figure skater suspended at least 6 years for 'sexual maltreatment'
Canadian figure skater Nikolaj Sorensen has been suspended for at least six years for 'sexual maltreatment,' the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner announced Wednesday.
Grandparents found hugging each other after fallen tree killed them in their South Carolina home
As Hurricane Helene roared outside, the wind howling and branches snapping, John Savage went to his grandparents' bedroom to make sure they were OK.
W5 Investigates What it's like to interview a narco
Drug smuggling is the main industry for Mexican cartels, but migrant smuggling is turning into a financial windfall. In this fourth instalment of CTV W5's 'Narco Jungle: The Death Train,' Avery Haines is in Juarez where she speaks with one of the human smugglers known as 'coyotes.'
B.C. man ordered to pay damages for defamatory Google review
A B.C. man has been ordered to pay a total of $4,000 to a Coquitlam company and its two owners because of a negative review he posted on Google.
DEVELOPING Israel extends evacuation warnings in Lebanon, signaling a wider offensive
The Israeli military on Thursday warned people to evacuate a city and other communities in southern Lebanon that are north of a UN-declared buffer zone, signaling that it may widen a ground operation launched earlier this week against the Hezbollah militant group.
Ontario family devastated after losing thousands to online flight ticket scam
An Ontario family was planning a religious trip to Saudi Arabia that included 10 people, but when they were checking in for their flights, the family discovered some of their tickets were fake.
For Canadians seeking a non-mRNA COVID vaccine, lack of Novavax shot is 'unfair,' advocates say
The federal government's decision to not provide Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine this respiratory virus season raises health equity concerns, experts and advocates say, as some Canadians look to the U.S. to get the shot.
Albertan first Canadian veteran to compete in Mrs. Universe pageant
In less than a year, an Alberta woman has gone from gracing the stage at her first pageant to competing at the Mrs. Universe pageant in South Korea. She's making history by becoming the first Canadian veteran to compete internationally.