92-Yr-Old War Vet Fights To Hold On To Hospital Bed
Posted June 18, 2009 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
He was shot twice during the Dieppe Raid of 1942, and was eventually captured as a Prisoner of War in Germany where he was held captive for three years. At the age of 92, WWII veteran Paul Parkin has endured more than his fair share of fighting. But now he’s embroiled in a battle of a different kind — a bureaucratic conflict that could end up costing him $700 a day.
Parkin has had a bed at Oakville Trafalgar Hospital since January, but last month he was told to move to a nursing home or fork out $700 per day.
He’s in an acute care bed, but no longer needs acute care services. But he has no where else to go. His son’s home isn’t wheelchair accessible, and a nearby Oakville nursing home has a two-year waiting list.
“I’m just hoping we can come to some conclusion you know that I can be satisfied with,” Parkin said.
The still spry looking vet and his son met with hospital officials on Thursday, but say little was resolved.
“We did make an inquiry if veterans can move faster up queues and that doesn’t appear to be a policy in the wait list,” said John Oliver, President CEO, of Halton Health Care Services.
Parkin’s son Doug believes his father should be able to live out his life on his own terms.
“I think he’s paid his dues and should be able to go wherever he wants to go.”
