Halifax hospital's 'bad' conditions upset cancer patient

A cancer patient is speaking out about the conditions of an ailing Halifax hospital,comparing them to a third-world country.

Cynthia O'Connell, 49, underwent surgery to remove a 23-pound malignant tumour last week.She was placed in the palliative care ward of the Victoria General hospital's Centennial Building.

I think its really bad," said O'Connell, breaking into tears. "Its really bad to be living in Canada and to know thats how we treat people when they have cancer."

There were signs posted in every bathroom, at every sink, not only saying you couldnt' drink the water but you couldn't brush your teeth with the water. You couldn't bathe with the water.

She said since the place is where people go to die, the state of the hospital is not high on the patients' priority list.

I felt because I was the youngest, I wanted to come forward and speak out for those that can't.

Capital Health aware of complaints

Capital District Health Authority spokesman John Gillis said the water has been an ongoing problem since the 1980s.

OConnell, a former hospitality industry consultant, said hospitals in developing countries are better equipped. She said rooms on her ward were either unbearably hot or cold, the window by her bed leaked and there were flies.

She also said the food was terrible and questions the cleanliness of the ward.

Gillis acknowledges there are complaints about the almost 50-year-old building

We know that physically this isn't an ideal place to provide care to patients or to work, he said.

The health authority said it has a plan to demolish the Centennial Building but it first wants to add floors to other hospitals.

Thats expected to take five to 10 years.