Ambulance shortage forces mother of Alberta ER patient to drive her to urgent surgery

Olivia Armstrong is recovering from surgery — as well as a harrowing ordeal of simply getting to the operating table.

At around 4:45 a.m. on June 25, the 21-year-old went to the emergency room at the Red Deer Hospital because of abdominal pain.

"If I stayed still, then it was not as bad. But as soon as I'd move again, it would start hurting bad," Armstrong said.

It took more than six hours before she was able to get an ultrasound.

"It was just frustrating… that it had taken so long, and it could be something serious," she said.

The ultrasound revealed Armstrong had appendicitis and needed to undergo urgent surgery. But due to staffing shortages, the hospital was unable to operate on her. It was another hour before she was referred to a different hospital, 140 kilometres northeast of Red Deer.

Except there was a snag, she was told.

"They came and told me, you need to go to Camrose for your surgery, but we can't take you there. There's no transportation, so you have to find your own way," Armstrong said.

"Wow, is basically what I thought. What if my mom wasn't there to take me? What if I didn't have an alternative ride?"

Olivia's mother, Roxzane, experienced many thoughts during the 1½-hour drive.

"What if something happens along the way? That's very scary… What if we get delayed on the highway?" she said.

Armstrong eventually received her surgery at the St. Mary's Hospital in Camrose and was discharged the next day, but frustrations remain over the whole experience.

"I was still in a lot of pain and it was a very terrible experience, but mine was not so much life-or-death. I feel very bad for the people that are in those situations and can't get the help and support and health care that they need," Olivia said.

Roxzane Armstrong is raising bigger questions over the incident.