The family of a Second World War veteran is accusing the Camp Hill Veterans Memorial hospital in Halifax of unjustly denying their father a bed.
The news comes soon after was denied access to Camp Hill for different reasons, in a decision Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil called 鈥渂ureaucratic BS.鈥�
Donald Osborne, 95, was examined by a nurse with Veterans Affairs Canada earlier this year and declared fit to live on his own, according to his two adult children.
Kathleen Osborne said that, although her father could do tasks like bathe and make a sandwich, his cognitive abilities are failing. For example, he doesn鈥檛 always remember what year it is.
鈥淗e fought for us, and I think it鈥檚 time we fought for him,鈥� said his son Lloyd.
Camp Hill operates as part of the province鈥檚 network of hospitals but admissions are handled by Veterans Affairs Canada, which provides funding.
Osborne has lived alone in an apartment for the past three years, since his wife was moved to nursing home. His family says he recently fell and spent two hours on the floor before he was discovered by a caregiver.
Osborne鈥檚 family says he is aware that his health is deteriorating, and is eager to join his follow veterans at Camp Hill.
They say the application process for another heath assessment will take months.
Camp Hill made headlines recently over the controversial decision to deny admission to 94-year-old Petter Blindheim. Ottawa initially said he is not an Allied veteran since he served with the Norwegian Royal Navy during the Second World War. That explanation has been recanted. Now, Blindheim is being rejected on the grounds that he could receive adequate care at existing provincial facilities.
Osborne fought on the front lines with the Canadian Forces in Italy and France. He was wounded and narrowly escaped death when a bullet from an enemy machine gun struck his helmet.
鈥淚t went right through my helmet and out the other side,鈥� he said.
With a report from CTV Atlantic
