Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre - Red Deer, Alberta

11 3.

In 2024 I was voluntarily admitted (and kept on a hold) after I had my first and only instance of self harm after years of struggling with undiagnosed bipolar disorder. I was aware of the diagnosis before going in.

Nurses were amazing, first psychiatrist I was was attentive, listened, and said he could help me.

Two days later I was seen by a different psychiatrist, and he was the absolute rudest; ignorant, disgusting excuse for a medical professional I have ever met. Rude, condescending, and acting like I was a burden just being there. Didn’t listen to me at all, Refused even help me get set up with therapy when I got out, let alone actually tried to help, just acted like I was someone taking up a bed for no reason, tried to convince me to leave 3 days in (right after my 72 hour hold was up) even tho I expressed concern for my wellbeing if I left.

Pretty sure if a nurse hadn’t seen me crying after that appointment and asked me what was up I would have been forcibly kicked out, despite no behavioural or other issues other than the extreme depression.

I really wish I had gotten his name, he truly was a monster and should not be in charge of people in distress.

Rani P.

I had my first baby about 6 weeks ago. I was extremely nervous, especially being relatively new to Canada and not totally having a grasp on the health care system. But let me tell you, I cannot overstate how fantastic the team taking care of me was, especially the nurses. Things did not necessarily go to plan as my epidural only worked on half of my body, but I felt safe, cared for, and empowered to do what I needed to.

It was quite the ordeal so I can’t remember all of the names of the wonderful medical staff who cared for me, but the nurses I had the most were Haylee and Becca. They were absolutely fantastic and I could not sing their praises enough if I tried.

Thank you to everyone who helped bring my son safely into this world! I am so grateful and thankful. ❤️

Daniel K. C.

I was in the Day Surgery Unit for kidney stone removal. I couldn’t have had better treatment. The Dr. and all the staff were exceptional. Everybody was steady on the move looking after people. Ya, there was a few things that could’ve been a little better, but so what, they’re busy. To all you self entitled people that just complain about everything, get off it. It’s a hospital, it’s full of sick people, there’s emergencies, what do you expect? Again, thanks to all the staff, you people are all top notch, you don’t get enough credit, pat yourself on the back, you all deserve it.

Megan O.

Yes the er waiting room sucks, I will agree. But I got my appendix out last night and they were great, from ultrasound all the way up until I left this morning. The staff is wonderful. I ended up in pediatric and Sandy was my first nurse, truly an angel I am so appreciative of her keeping me calm and making sure I had a smile on my face. All the nurses I had through the night/morning and in the OR were awesome I was so terrified and they were always so supportive. Even though everyone is burnt out here they still make an effort to help as much as they can and it’s awesome. Be patient with these people, they are running over capacity and have been for a long time, but they still give great care and they deserve recognition for working so hard to help keep us all healthy.

Miranda H.

I can understand to a degree that our healthcare system is understaffed and strained. But the lack of humanity, urgency and missed information between staff is appalling. I have been here with my very ill child for 15 hours and counting.
It was insisted that with her symptoms, she be immediately taken to Red Deer, suggesting that a the surrounding hospitals were not equipped to handle her case. Upon getting here we went through intake, where a nurse told us she would get the go ahead from the doctor to get blood work done right away. That didn't happen.

We witnessed one individual who arrived after us going to the bathroom multiple times to ingest drugs, and progressively get more high and aggressive. Pushing chairs and other people's belongings around and mumbling threats in between passing out. When we were finally moved to the next waiting area, we sat there for approximately 7 hours, where we watched presumably a nurse, a security guard and a police officer attempt to remove an intoxicated man from a bed. Stating, "you need to go to the other waiting area and sober up before we can work on you."
Upon bringing my frustrations that these people were being treated and taking up beds, while my child had to sit in agony crying, vomiting and urinating blood, I was criticized for using inappropriate language and responsibility for hours in between check ins and updates was deflected.
On 3 separate occasions I had pressed them to give my child a bed, as there were 3 empty ones and an intoxicated person in another. They refused saying that their were people that were needing them more. We had to sit in cramped chairs for hours on end with no relief for her, no food or water and no sleep.
While I can appreciate the kind patience of one nurse, it doesn't erase the disgusting behaviour of the rest.

I will never come back here unless forced to ever again. What an awful place for the sick and injured to have to endure.

Jack N.

Took my wife in with chest pains and coughing up blood. Sat in the outer lobby for 6 hours before being called into the back area. Several tweakers and a drunk got in nice and quick, and had bed nice and quick. I'm sitting in a waiting room with people that have waited over 12 hours. There is 1 doctor working in the whole building we're told. Your better off driving to any other community hospital than sitting here.

Pat C.

Just like most of the other reviews, I had a not very good experience. I arrived at the emergency at around 6:20pm with an obviously broken ankle from a fall off a ladder at home. Getting into the hospital there were no wheelchairs available as they were taken up by homeless and drug addcts. A security guard found one for me 1/2 an hour later. Getting signed in was slow but not too bad. The wait time on the tv screen was at about 9 hours. There were 63 people ahead of me who looked like for the most part non emergency cases especially the drug addiction aspect. The washrooms were filthy with piss on the floors and a tone time a homeless woman had done some sort of drugs in the bathroom and wash locked in there for over an hour. When I went in there was leftover drug paraphernalia on the baby change table. People were coming and going and many of those leaving ER walked out as if nothing was wrong with them and they were showing zero signs of any issues. Crackheads and homeless were sleeping on the floors and flopped on the benches and sitting space was limited. The security looked as though they had their hands tied and could do nothing but ignore them. I was finally sent to another waiting area where the beds were and witnessed a homeless man arguing about needing drugs for an itchy eye. He finally packed up his trash and stormed out yelling profanity at the nurses because he wasn’t getting any drugs. This motherfkr was taken in about 2 hours before me and I’m sitting there with my ankle crooked over obviously broken and the only thing I had was a cold pack that last half an hour. The bruising and swelling was all the way up to my knee. Finally at 5:00am I got an X-ray and waited until 11:00 am to have the doctor tell me yep it’s broken alright in 2 places. Through the night I had watched the only emergency doctor spend the vast majority of his time chatting up the nurses. I got fitted with an air cast which was a size too small but the nurse didn’t want to go back and get another proper sized one and just fitted it on with my toes bunched up in the front. When I finally got home at 1:00 PM I took the toe piece off and tossed it away. In 2011 I was admitted to the Banff springs hospital with a case of necrotizing cellulitis on my hand that could have killed me in a few hours because of how fast it as spreading. I was on IV within 10 minutes. If that was RD emergency I would have died right there waiting for care considering the lack of their ability to triage properly. If I could give a negative rating I would. Their entire protocol needs overhaul and zero tolerance for homeless and junkies using the waiting area for a hostel.

Sharon M.

Well am currently still in the hospital since December 19 have not been treated with dignity or respect. Going through the system of how it is handled by Dr LaRueas Well as a few doctors who were on my health care team. I am not sick actually not sick but being homeless. So I live in a horrible mismanaged mobile home park and in trying to go through the steps set up to help me be placed in a different housing situation. My 2 dogs and 3 cats are at the SPCA since December 19 and I am still waiting to meet someone who has my exit plan . Help with New affordable housing situation still hasn't happened. The doctors seem to think Dr LaRue that it it is necessary for me to stay here until they are ready. Who is they, the doctor LaRue, the social worker what. Dr LaRue has not let me go home to pack for my possible move which I still haven't been told. Have not been able to without security being called have needed personal toiletries that I need for my daily care so staff have given me toothbrush toiletries and some clothing to wear to not feel at home here. There was a life outside the hospital but in trying to move ahead with life plan I have to keep postpone my dental needs as well to start housing repairs plumbing repairs because of my pipes froze in March last year I have not had running water or toilet facilities or hot water. No help from any family member s either even though several could help I have to move ahead with plans for myself. I am not allowed to meet with I th contractors. I have only been allowed off the floor recently to go by some treats at the gift shop. I am on disability so budget is pretty horrible. Not sure how will pay SPCA when I'm out of hear. Read several books noo TV available. The staff have been great but Dr. LaRue is still keeping me here no cell phone either