Tragic Death in Amherst Emergency

The death of a young wife, mother, and community volunteer from Tidnish Bridge is raising grief and anger across Nova Scotia.

Allison (Ali) Holtoff died at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre on New Year’s eve while waiting in the emergency department. 

Her husband, Gunter, recounts a story of hours of frustration and excruciating pain during which his wife said, “‘I’m dying here, they’re going to let me die.”

The mother of three and Deputy Chief of the Tidnish Bridge Volunteer Fire Department, was overcome with abdominal pain early on the morning of New Year’s Eve. She was carried into the hospital by her husband at 10:52 am. By 9:00 pm she was on life support and soon after died of a ruptured spleen.

News of the sad story was only revealed after a community service in Tidnish Bridge this past Friday.

By policy, Nova Scotia Health does not release details of hospital deaths, even one involving the critical breakdown of emergency service.

The story of the hours in between has made Ali a rallying cry for the broken health care system.

The Member of Parliament for Cumberland-Colchester says, “This disturbing case is a clear illustration of the real, human cost of Canada’s ongoing healthcare crisis.”

Dr. Stephen Ellis says such tragedies are preventable but only if all they key players get together to seek solutions.

Referring to the former President of the Canadian Medical Association, Ellis said, ”Dr. Katharine Smart warned us last year that Canada’s healthcare system is collapsing around us.”

Premier Tim Houston has been pounding the desk to get Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to meet with all Canadian Premiers to address the crisis. However, inexplicably, Trudeau has remained silent.

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