On March 6, a Sun City West resident found a man laying on the sidewalk shivering across the street from the Banner Del Webb Hospital on Meeker in nothing but his underwear, shoes, a hospital gown and a small hospital blanket. This was early morning around 7 a.m. or so. The temperature was approximately 45 degrees.
A nurse just off shift talked to the resident who found the man and told her that the homeless man was discharged about two hours earlier with nowhere to go and no cellphone. The Sheriff’s Office was called for help. The deputy tried to locate an open bed in a shelter and took the man away.
My question is how can a hospital discharge a patient with no clothes. He more than likely entered the hospital with clothes on. Why was he discharged without clothes? Where is the compassion the Banner Del Webb Hospital CEO talks about? Why wasn’t something done to help clothe this individual?
It was a shameful thing that the Banner personnel did that morning. Just because he is homeless does not mean he has no dignity! I am so sad that our fellow humans can do such a heartless thing to a vulnerable individual.
Unfortunately this is not the first time I have witnessed this situation. In the last two years, this is the second time this scenario has played out. I no longer have a high opinion of the Banner Del Webb hospital system, I feel they have no compassion at all for their patients and only see dollar signs instead of humans.
I sent this note to the CEO of Banner shortly after this happened and asked for an explanation on what happened here. I have heard nothing in the three weeks that have gone by since the note was sent.
They apparently do not care what people think, only the money that comes in. Health care is all about money, not humanity and helping people.
