A Montreal man fighting to get his wife healthcare service in English says a group of complete strangers helped save the day.
George Zeliotis came forward recently because his 80-year-old wife, who suffers from dementia, had been placed in the CHSLD Rousselot, an east-end public nursing home where the staff speaks almost no English.
He was told there was no room at any bilingual institution.
After trying to speak with the nurse in charge over the phone, Zeliotis said she hung up on him, saying "Ici au Quebec, on parle français."
Word of the incident made it all the way to Health Minister Gaétan Barrette, who called the situation unacceptable during an interview with the Aaron Rand show on CJAD800.
"This is not the way to answer patients," he said. "Efforts are being made as we speak to make sure that the patient will be transferred as soon as possible."
Zelitotis' fight has paid off. He told the Montreal Gazette his wife, Alexandra Stefanatos, was transferred to the Grace Dart Extended Care Centre, a bilingual institution on St Catherine St. on Wednesday.
While it still took time to have his wife moved, Zeliotis said the delay was made easier thanks to the kindness of strangers.
He said after he came forward with his story, Elizz Agency, a private home-care agency, provided Stefanatos free home care in English while she was recovering from pneumonia in hospital.
Zeliotis praised the group, saying they had a nurse by her side making sure she ate and drank.
The agency told the newspaper it would be staying by Stefanatos' side for the rest of the week.