Winnipeg woman, 82, outraged after being sent home from hospital in a cab

An elderly woman says she never should have been sent home from hospital in a taxi and she hopes her story will prevent others from having the same experience.

Heidi Loewen, 82, said she was sent home in a taxi on Jan. 31, 2015. Hours later, she was sent back to hospital after she collapsed in her home.

"To me it's complete negligence, and if I had died it would have been criminal negligence," Loewen said.

The Winnipeg senior said she lives alone and she wasn't feeling well that day. She had trouble breathing and called her daughter, who then urged her to call 911. An ambulance picked her up and she was sent to the Urgent Care Centre at Misericordia Health Centre.

Loewen said the hospital ran some tests and a doctor later told her that she had suffered a stroke.

"He came around and says, 'it seems that you've had a stroke,'" Loewen said. "I was anticipating that he would say, 'well, now you're going to be admitted, because you know you're not in good shape."

Sent home in cab

Instead, she was told her she was going home in a taxi.

"He said, 'we've called a cab for you, you can go home. We'll give you aspirin, you should be fine.'"  

Loewen said her condition got worse after she was sent home. She felt sick and collapsed in her bathroom in the middle of the night.

Loewen's son, who was staying at her home that night, called for help. She was sent back to hospital, this time to Health Sciences Centre. 

Loewen said the paramedics were the same ones who picked her up earlier in the day. Those rides cost her $500.

"The same people arrived, like, egg all over their face," she said.

​Loewen fractured her left ankle and both her thumbs in the fall. It took her at least two months to recover in hospital.

She still struggles getting dressed every day, her speech isn't the same and she 's still angry about what happened to her.

Loewen believes she should have been admitted to a hospital, rather than being sent home in a cab.

Helping others

Loewen said she wanted to share her story with the public after seeing media reports about the ongoing inquest into the death of Heather Brenan.

"And I looked at that ... and I just felt duty-bound to tell it like it really was ... because she didn't get a chance," Loewen said, fighting back tears.

• Heather Brenan's daughter frustrated by lack of answers at inquest
• Heather Brenan didn't want to leave Winnipeg hospital, inquest told
• Heather Brenan needed to stay in hospital, doctor tells inquest

Brenan, 68, died hours after being discharged from Seven Oaks Hospital around 11 p.m. on Jan. 27, 2012. She was sent home in a cab and collapsed just outside the back door of her home.

Brenan was rushed back to hospital where she later died of a blood clot.

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) said it implemented changes and strengthened its discharge policy following the deaths of two more patients, who were sent home in taxis from Grace Hospital in December of 2013.

Taxi companies now have specific instructions for drivers to watch and make sure patients are getting into their homes safely when being transported from hospital.

"I don't believe a word of it," Loewen said. "It looks good on paper, I'm sure it looks beautiful in a report, but in actual fact it probably doesn't exist." 

She also believes hospital staff in Winnipeg need to be more respectful toward elderly patients.

"The whole attitude should change. They have to start with attitude."

In an email to CBC News, the WRHA said a representative from the Misericordia Health Centre contacted Loewen to listen to her concerns. Read the full response below:

Statement from the WRHA:

We are very sorry to hear of this individual's experience with the health system. The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority strives to ensure concerns about patient care are addressed, and the safety and quality of our services remain top priorities.

As you know, we are required by law to maintain privacy and confidentiality of patient information, and are unable to publicly discuss an individual's personal health information. However, a representative from Misericordia has called Ms. Loewen [Wednesday] to listen to her concerns, and to discuss this specific experience with her.

A review of the care and treatment provided to this patient has suggested the care provided was appropriate. Nevertheless, a representative has reached out to Ms. Loewen [Wednesday] to listen to her concerns and answer any questions she may have.