Wrong patient sent to Surrey, B.C., home after hospital discharge

A resident of Surrey, B.C., who was shocked when a hospital transfer service delivered a confused stranger to his home, instead of his father, says he doesn't want other seniors to experience the same trauma. 

Sunny Hundal said his 84-year-old father, who was in Surrey Memorial Hospital after suffering breathing problems, was supposed to be sent back to their home on Dec. 22.

But while he and his father were waiting at the hospital for the transfer, Hundal got a call from his wife saying the transfer vehicle had already turned up outside their Surrey house and was dropping off a stranger. 

Hundal said the elderly man was in a wheelchair and appeared confused, was unable to speak, and was dressed in a thin hospital gown.

"Obviously, everybody was shocked. My mom was there, my wife was there, they both were looking at each other and wondering what's going on," said Hundal. 

Hundal said they worried about the man in such thin clothing on a cold day. 

He said staff "were apologetic and acknowledged their mistake."

Hundal said he was told the man would be taken back to Surrey Memorial, while Fraser Health said both patients were eventually returned safely to their proper homes

"I guess it is concerning," said Hundal. "I don't know if his family is even aware that this happened to him."

Hundal said his dad got home safely the next day, but he said he decided to speak up so others wouldn't go through the same experience.

"Because ultimately, it's the seniors who are paying the price," said Hundal, "If we can't take care of our seniors, then there is clearly something we are missing, and we need to pay more attention to it and fix that."

Fraser Health said "all appropriate steps" in the hospital discharge process were followed.

Hospital Transfers, the company contracted to provide the authority's non-emergency patient transport, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns