A Cape Breton mother, Lauren Ripley, recently filed a complaint about her emergency department visit at Cape Breton Regional Hospital. Ripley, 29, visited the hospital on May 27 due to dehydration and symptoms related to her Type 1 diabetes. Having been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 16, Ripley requires daily insulin. She went to the ER with her husband seeking treatment for her symptoms.

Over the 13 years of living with Type 1 diabetes, Ripley has experienced diabetic ketoacidosis multiple times, a serious condition that can be fatal. After undergoing surgery, Ripley closely monitored her symptoms for signs of diabetic ketoacidosis risk.

Despite her efforts, Ripley felt dismissed and mistreated by the nurse who triaged her at the hospital. She expressed frustration at the lack of attention to her concerns and the failure to call her surgeon for post-surgery complications.

Ripley's request for intravenous fluids to treat her dehydration and ketones was ignored by the nurse, who ordered blood work instead. Feeling unheard and unsupported, Ripley decided to leave the hospital without receiving the necessary treatment.

Following her ER visit, Ripley sought rehydration services and filed a complaint with the hospital's patient advisor. She emphasized the importance of preventive care in healthcare to avoid costly and lengthy treatments like ICU stays.

Nova Scotia Health responded by stating their commitment to patient care and implementing strategies to improve the patient experience and reduce wait times at the hospital's emergency department.