N.S. mother ‘in shock’ after enduring 17-hour hospital wait with sick baby

Amber Clark said she arrived at the Aberdeen Hospital in New Glasgow, N.S., as her 10-month-old child was suffering from bronchitis symptoms, and was told to go by 811 officials.

A Nova Scotia mother is voicing her frustration with the province’s health-care system after waiting more than 17 hours in an emergency department with her sick 10-month-old son.

Amber Clark of Scotsburn, N.S., said she arrived at the nearby Aberdeen Hospital on April 22 at about 12 p.m. following a recommendation from an 811 telehealth representative.

Her son, Sawyer, was suffering from worsening chest congestion and fever. Upon arrival, she was told that the longest wait time was about two hours.

She didn’t leave until around 6 a.m. the following morning.

“The current state of health care in Nova Scotia is absolutely beyond broken,” she said during an interview with Global News on Wednesday, adding that patients routinely crowded into the waiting room as the hours passed.

“It was a little over 17  hours altogether; waiting in the emergency room for a 10-month-old baby with congestion and breathing concerns. I was shocked. I was running out of milk, diapers, everything. I didn’t prepare for this.”

Clark said she contemplated leaving halfway through her 17-hour wait. She decided to stay put because she wanted to avoid adding additional hours to an already time-sensitive situation.

“I was in shock towards the end that it took so long. I was just in disbelief,” Clark continued.