Yesterday I had the unfortunate experience of attending the emergency department at this hospital.
In swept this young doctor who took one look at my
swollen leg and said " We will order blood as you might have a blood clot" Can you come back tomorrow for an ultra sound? Ok
Blood was taken and he waltzes into my space and says gleefully " Well you don't have a blood clot and you can go now" Again I said well what about all this swelling on the left side of my body the nurse at 811 told me to call 911 immediately.
Now it is many hours later and I am thinking: is this brazen young man a doctor or some idiot playing God with my life. Dr please get another profession
Overall the emergency department is full of really good hearted kind nurses lab techs cleaning staff and front line workers who care but God pity the patient when they get a nurse or doctor who is downright indifferent or worse passive aggressive
It really gives the hospital a bad name.I am seventy five this year, they say heaven lasts forever I hope so. I trained as a nurse and I know a good bedside manner and an intelligent professional when I meet them. it is hit and miss in emergency. Maybe I will call 811 again and ask for advise. Or research utube and see what this might be about. I am alone afraid. I am a veteran nurse with head injury and PTSD from working in a war zone , I am also a full-time caregiver of a head injured husband since 1991 that is many many years without any support from our local head injury community group in the Comox Valley. We are only a number to them so they can get funding for their income. I wonder why I left a war zone to now finding myself in another kind of war zone.
Bombs are not exploding but the blind indifference I have seen in Comox Valley Emergency Department scares me. Over medicated or desperately hurting human beings scared and lonely seeking only kindness and help from professionals who fall short The patient is treated with indifference. Why are you here ? ; instead of , How can I help you and then listen to the patient LISTEN.
It is I:50 am and I am waiting for a nurse at 811 to ask for advice again .
Dr Barry or Conner did not read my file. Or the intake nurse did not listen to what I said.
End result he confuses myself as he relays what he thinks I said at admission
2:30am 811 nurse ( an angel from heaven for sure )
she LISTENED note to self, always write down symptoms and medical history as it relates to the pain. Tomorrow I return to emergency and insist on more investigative work. My body my life.
May F
-
February 02, 2026
Triage nurse today was an absolute delight. Tried to go to urgent care but they sent me here for chest pain etc. Had left the hospital the night before after a few hours, was in a lot of pain and couldn't sit in a chair anymore. Thought rest would be more important and could try to get care again later. Wasn't an easy choice.
Nurse said it was a 4 hour wait to see a doctor. I asked him what to do if I feel to sick again or got worse and want to leave, or I'm too sick to sit upright anymore. I've been dizzy, nearly fainted before, and haven't been able to sit upright much. He said why would you leave then if you're that sick. I don't understand the question. Kept repeating why would you leave if you're 'that' sick. Judgemental tone.
What do you mean you don't understand? Why not - if I'm that sick why are you not going to treat me then. I physically can't hold myself up in a chair anymore. So what do I do if that happens. He works at a hospital and hasn't come across this issue?
He said he didn't understand and didn't have a stretcher for me. I asked yeah do I come get you what are we supposed to do here. If I can no longer sit upright - that wasn't a crazy question. It's easy to sit in a chair if you aren't that sick. It's very difficult if you are sick. He said yeah come get us. And decided to send me through to end the conversation because he didn't understand what it's like to be physically weak and in pain to the point where you need to lie down but there isn't anywhere to lie down.
You can't tell people they aren't sick enough to be a priority patient but also have them not be able to get treatment elsewhere. I was sent here. Tried getting help elsewhere like I thought we were supposed to. Told I have to be treated here. I'm not one of the patients who "dont need to be here." I'm not lying about being sick because I've left. This is an issue everywhere.
He was being nice to other patients. Is it so offensive that I might need to lie down. That's your guy at the front? Someone who hasn't really been sick before or looked at the ER from a patient perspective?
Maybe don't have a triage nurse who is your least compassionate. A lot of us who come here worked in healthcare, including me, and hate these types of healthcare workers. I feel shitty enough to have to be here after dreading coming here. And you want to make me feel worse on top of it. That's why a lot of us don't want to get help. We don't trust you and don't want to be treated like garbage.
Sincerely,
Me and every single other patient I've ever met
E M
-
December 25, 2025
I can't say enough good things about my experience at CVH. I'm sitting in emergency writing this, after being here for almost 4hrs now and waiting for results will probably be just as long.. To bad reviewers, that doesn't sound good, but being ill for the past week and a half, I don't mind the wait in order to get checked out by caring professionals. The wait time is not their fault. Look to "your" elected officials for that complaint. Don't blame hospital staff. They're all doing the best they can with the hand they've been dealt. I want to thank all staff at CVH for their time and efforts to make the wait a little bit more bearable. I wish I could thank all those I've dealt with so far but didn't get your name. But for those I did - Alisha from the lab; you are someone very special. You know your job and patients well, treating each and everyone of them with a personal touch. A special thanks to Donna the Porter. You made my day and are doing a great job!
Matthew Rahn
-
November 24, 2025
I called today to ask for the current wait time for my grandmother, who is very elderly and needs someone to advocate for her. As soon as I asked, the woman on the phone snapped, “We don’t do that over the phone,” in a very curt tone.
I was confused, because I had called the day before and been given the wait time without any issue. When I mentioned that, her response was, “You really don’t need to talk to me that way,” as if I’d yelled or been rude. I hadn’t.
I’m autistic and sometimes struggle with communication, but this wasn’t a misunderstanding on my end. Her tone from start to finish was defensive, dismissive, and made it very clear she saw me as a nuisance for asking what she seemed to think was a stupid question—one she said I could find “online” without initially clarifying where.
When I calmly asked if the information was on the Island Health site or the hospital’s own website, she actually said, “Well if you’re just going to be this persistent…” then finally gave me the time and hung up on me.
My mother works in healthcare. I understand the pressures and the burnout. I was not rude, I was not demanding. I was simply trying to take care of my elderly grandmother.
Your receptionist’s attitude was unacceptable. She made me feel small, brushed off, and extremely uncomfortable. Now I have to bring my grandmother in and I’m anxious I’ll have to deal with this same person again.
No one seeking medical care—especially for vulnerable family members—should be met with hostility, impatience, or contempt at the front desk. The receptionist is the first point of contact for people who are already worried and stressed. This experience did the opposite of building trust in your facility.
Koral V
-
October 26, 2025
went in regarding tumors in my head .
Vision problems,balance problems, headache, etc. genuinely not well and wasn’t okay .
They simply “forgot” about me and I guess my chart didn’t make it to the pile. ?
I sat and waited for hours .declining.
Checked in and inquired twice during this time as my condition was worsening. Scared for my health.
Different nurse each time before finally the third nurse I spoke with informed me that my chart wasn’t there and I’d have to go through triage again .
I was absolutely appalled .
I went back to the triage desk, tried to talk with the nurses, and I was told to sit down and wait.
Basically dismissed .
I sat and waited.
No acknowledgment, nothing. Literally.
Watching ppl with minor cuts and vomiting go in.
I finally made the decision to leave and go elsewhere -
For my own health and well being .
I got up clearly uncoordinated and not well at this point .
I was mentally and physically going down hill at that point and required medical attention.
I am disgusted and don’t have words for how messed up it was.
Scary and disappointing.
Needless to say -
Horrible experience and I pray nobody else has to go through this.
If you can it’s worth it to go elsewhere.
Health is wealth.
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Yesterday I had the unfortunate experience of attending the emergency department at this hospital. In swept this young doctor who took one look at my swollen leg and said " We will order blood as you might have a blood clot" Can you come back tomorrow for an ultra sound? Ok Blood was taken and he waltzes into my space and says gleefully " Well you don't have a blood clot and you can go now" Again I said well what about all this swelling on the left side of my body the nurse at 811 told me to call 911 immediately. Now it is many hours later and I am thinking: is this brazen young man a doctor or some idiot playing God with my life. Dr please get another profession Overall the emergency department is full of really good hearted kind nurses lab techs cleaning staff and front line workers who care but God pity the patient when they get a nurse or doctor who is downright indifferent or worse passive aggressive It really gives the hospital a bad name.I am seventy five this year, they say heaven lasts forever I hope so. I trained as a nurse and I know a good bedside manner and an intelligent professional when I meet them. it is hit and miss in emergency. Maybe I will call 811 again and ask for advise. Or research utube and see what this might be about. I am alone afraid. I am a veteran nurse with head injury and PTSD from working in a war zone , I am also a full-time caregiver of a head injured husband since 1991 that is many many years without any support from our local head injury community group in the Comox Valley. We are only a number to them so they can get funding for their income. I wonder why I left a war zone to now finding myself in another kind of war zone. Bombs are not exploding but the blind indifference I have seen in Comox Valley Emergency Department scares me. Over medicated or desperately hurting human beings scared and lonely seeking only kindness and help from professionals who fall short The patient is treated with indifference. Why are you here ? ; instead of , How can I help you and then listen to the patient LISTEN. It is I:50 am and I am waiting for a nurse at 811 to ask for advice again . Dr Barry or Conner did not read my file. Or the intake nurse did not listen to what I said. End result he confuses myself as he relays what he thinks I said at admission 2:30am 811 nurse ( an angel from heaven for sure ) she LISTENED note to self, always write down symptoms and medical history as it relates to the pain. Tomorrow I return to emergency and insist on more investigative work. My body my life.
Triage nurse today was an absolute delight. Tried to go to urgent care but they sent me here for chest pain etc. Had left the hospital the night before after a few hours, was in a lot of pain and couldn't sit in a chair anymore. Thought rest would be more important and could try to get care again later. Wasn't an easy choice. Nurse said it was a 4 hour wait to see a doctor. I asked him what to do if I feel to sick again or got worse and want to leave, or I'm too sick to sit upright anymore. I've been dizzy, nearly fainted before, and haven't been able to sit upright much. He said why would you leave then if you're that sick. I don't understand the question. Kept repeating why would you leave if you're 'that' sick. Judgemental tone. What do you mean you don't understand? Why not - if I'm that sick why are you not going to treat me then. I physically can't hold myself up in a chair anymore. So what do I do if that happens. He works at a hospital and hasn't come across this issue? He said he didn't understand and didn't have a stretcher for me. I asked yeah do I come get you what are we supposed to do here. If I can no longer sit upright - that wasn't a crazy question. It's easy to sit in a chair if you aren't that sick. It's very difficult if you are sick. He said yeah come get us. And decided to send me through to end the conversation because he didn't understand what it's like to be physically weak and in pain to the point where you need to lie down but there isn't anywhere to lie down. You can't tell people they aren't sick enough to be a priority patient but also have them not be able to get treatment elsewhere. I was sent here. Tried getting help elsewhere like I thought we were supposed to. Told I have to be treated here. I'm not one of the patients who "dont need to be here." I'm not lying about being sick because I've left. This is an issue everywhere. He was being nice to other patients. Is it so offensive that I might need to lie down. That's your guy at the front? Someone who hasn't really been sick before or looked at the ER from a patient perspective? Maybe don't have a triage nurse who is your least compassionate. A lot of us who come here worked in healthcare, including me, and hate these types of healthcare workers. I feel shitty enough to have to be here after dreading coming here. And you want to make me feel worse on top of it. That's why a lot of us don't want to get help. We don't trust you and don't want to be treated like garbage. Sincerely, Me and every single other patient I've ever met
I can't say enough good things about my experience at CVH. I'm sitting in emergency writing this, after being here for almost 4hrs now and waiting for results will probably be just as long.. To bad reviewers, that doesn't sound good, but being ill for the past week and a half, I don't mind the wait in order to get checked out by caring professionals. The wait time is not their fault. Look to "your" elected officials for that complaint. Don't blame hospital staff. They're all doing the best they can with the hand they've been dealt. I want to thank all staff at CVH for their time and efforts to make the wait a little bit more bearable. I wish I could thank all those I've dealt with so far but didn't get your name. But for those I did - Alisha from the lab; you are someone very special. You know your job and patients well, treating each and everyone of them with a personal touch. A special thanks to Donna the Porter. You made my day and are doing a great job!
I called today to ask for the current wait time for my grandmother, who is very elderly and needs someone to advocate for her. As soon as I asked, the woman on the phone snapped, “We don’t do that over the phone,” in a very curt tone. I was confused, because I had called the day before and been given the wait time without any issue. When I mentioned that, her response was, “You really don’t need to talk to me that way,” as if I’d yelled or been rude. I hadn’t. I’m autistic and sometimes struggle with communication, but this wasn’t a misunderstanding on my end. Her tone from start to finish was defensive, dismissive, and made it very clear she saw me as a nuisance for asking what she seemed to think was a stupid question—one she said I could find “online” without initially clarifying where. When I calmly asked if the information was on the Island Health site or the hospital’s own website, she actually said, “Well if you’re just going to be this persistent…” then finally gave me the time and hung up on me. My mother works in healthcare. I understand the pressures and the burnout. I was not rude, I was not demanding. I was simply trying to take care of my elderly grandmother. Your receptionist’s attitude was unacceptable. She made me feel small, brushed off, and extremely uncomfortable. Now I have to bring my grandmother in and I’m anxious I’ll have to deal with this same person again. No one seeking medical care—especially for vulnerable family members—should be met with hostility, impatience, or contempt at the front desk. The receptionist is the first point of contact for people who are already worried and stressed. This experience did the opposite of building trust in your facility.
went in regarding tumors in my head . Vision problems,balance problems, headache, etc. genuinely not well and wasn’t okay . They simply “forgot” about me and I guess my chart didn’t make it to the pile. ? I sat and waited for hours .declining. Checked in and inquired twice during this time as my condition was worsening. Scared for my health. Different nurse each time before finally the third nurse I spoke with informed me that my chart wasn’t there and I’d have to go through triage again . I was absolutely appalled . I went back to the triage desk, tried to talk with the nurses, and I was told to sit down and wait. Basically dismissed . I sat and waited. No acknowledgment, nothing. Literally. Watching ppl with minor cuts and vomiting go in. I finally made the decision to leave and go elsewhere - For my own health and well being . I got up clearly uncoordinated and not well at this point . I was mentally and physically going down hill at that point and required medical attention. I am disgusted and don’t have words for how messed up it was. Scary and disappointing. Needless to say - Horrible experience and I pray nobody else has to go through this. If you can it’s worth it to go elsewhere. Health is wealth.