Sudbury mom shares concerns after daughter's health card invalid at ER
A mother from Greater Sudbury is sharing her story about a recent experience at the emergency department at Health Sciences North in Sudbury.
There was an issue with her sick daughter’s health card and she claims she was told to pay or leave.
“I was very concerned for Claire on that day. She was having trouble breathing and when she would cough it was getting so bad she would actually choke while coughing,” said the mother, who didn’t want to be identified due to privacy reasons.
The mother said she took a very sick Claire to the HSN emergency department on Jan. 17 at 2 a.m.
“I had a bad cough and when I coughed, I choked and I couldn’t breathe,” said Claire Clark, six years old.
The mother said when they registered at the emergency department there was an issue with Claire’s health card.
“The registration clerk told me that my daughter’s health card was invalid,” she said.
A mother from Greater Sudbury is sharing her story about a recent experience with her daughter, Claire, at the emergency department at Health Sciences North in Sudbury. (Alana Everson/CTV News)
“I asked her how it was invalid and she said she did not know and then she said that I either needed to pay $875 or leave the hospital.”
The mother said the issue with the card was rectified the next morning and it was related to the unit number where she lives. Her daughter was treated by her family doctor for respiratory issues and given steroids and two puffers.
Still upset with her treatment at HSN, the mother said she complained to patient relations.
“I spoke to one of their staff members who said the matter was investigated and closed. Nothing about any kind of resolution was shared at all,” said the mother.
We contacted HSN and it said due to patient privacy laws, they were not able to speak to specific patient cases.
In a statement the hospital said:
“If someone comes to the ED and does not have a valid OHIP card, they are registered as an ‘uninsured’ patient and will still receive treatment. They will receive a bill for treatment.
“If a patient can subsequently provide their valid OHIP card number to the hospital within the timeframe required to successfully make a claim to the Ministry of Health, they will be reimbursed for their payment.”
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
The mother said she is sharing her story because she hopes anyone facing an issue with their health card -- especially critically ill children -- are not treated this way.
She said she was never told about possible reimbursement -- it was pay or leave.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Jasper updates: Wildfire reaches townsite
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park has reached the townsite.
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.