Our healthcare system is in crisis, that much is obvious.
What a truly *remarkable* medical system we have! Once again, it’s really let down one of my family members…
Penney got ready to head to the hospital yesterday to do some preliminary tests for the following day’s scheduled surgery, only to be told that there “wasn’t enough staff” to go ahead with the process. So, after getting off work on short notice, and arranging three months of recovery, she was told she may be going in… Next week.
What kind of system is this? Cancer patients waiting months for much-needed tests… People who are in serious need of surgery being told to go home because there isn’t enough staff to take care of you… Patients waiting a horrifically long time for a critical CAT or MRI scan. Even NDP Leader Carole James, who is being treated for cancer was bumped from her scheduled surgery date recently due to a staff shortage. Too bad we aren’t all loaded — We could just cross the border and get the help we need.
I’m outraged. People are literally dying while our Provincial and Federal governments get their act together and better manage our social health care system. It’s in a crisis, and our leaders are too busy dealing with optics and paper-pushing rather than doing something about the mess.
I’m usually a very proud Canadian, but today, I’m not very proud of how we are treating our sickest of citizens. I’m not even sure what I can do to have a voice… Other than run for office, and you won’t see me doing that.
Anyone have any ideas?
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Adressing the problems with providing access to health care is not just a federal or provincial issue… it truly is global and no country has a perfect solution. There are a lot of theories and practical solutions worldwide and to date, no silver bullets… Outrage is appropriate, but you have to understand that the problem goes far beyond staffing levels and waiting lists…. by no means am I advocating one position or another, and I can empathize with this situation, as my family has also been hit with delays in access to care at critical times… I simply say it is far more complicated than we realize… and goes beyond the responsibilty of any level of government. The important thing is that people talk about it. One person raising the debate is Dr. Brian Day, recently elected President of the Canadian Medical Assoc. … Here’s an idea… keep talking, raise the debate… get involved…Only through dialogue can practical solutions be found…
Here from Michele.
Health care is in crisis everywhere. From the patient view it is hard to get in to see a physician, the waits are horrible in the offices, patients use emergency rooms as primary care clinics and this makes for long waits for them. On the physician side, they have so much paperwork that is needless, they can’t spend as much time as they want with the individual patient. Docs are being squeezed from all directions. The insurance companies and medicare and medicade pay less and less so they have to see more patients. They have office staff wages and overhead to pay and the malpractice insurance (if you can get it at all) is so high that for many…. it is too expensive to stay in practice. The insurance companies seem to be the only ones sitting pretty.
Patients have to start learning more about their conditions and better yet, practice preventative medicine to protect themselves. Changing lifestyles, cutting smoking, alcohol, watching weight, exercisiong. Insurance companies need to make preventative medicine more of a priority.
In the US many say the British system or Canadian system would be better. But from your perspective, I honestly don’t think either is doing that well.
You hit the nail on the head in your entry: if we were all loaded, we’d simply cross the border. The sad truth is that there is already an elevated standard of care in effect for those who can afford it. For those who can’t, tough.
Here in the Great White North, we delude ourselves into believing that our government-funded health care system is sufficiently strong to meet our every need. Not so much, apparently. I wonder if a second-tier private system would address some of the more egregious cases – like Penney’s. Or if it would simply exacerbate the shameful chasm between haves and have-nots south of the border.
Either way, it’s turning into the problem of our age.
I’ll pray for Penney. And for you and your entire family.
I’ve said it elsewhere, so I’ll just link: bring on the user fees.
Don’t vote for the Liberals. They are the ones who have put the healthcare system where it’s at now.
I work in a healthcare setting and it has gone in the toilet ever since the Liberals came into power. Between lack of staffing (they cut jobs, cut wages by 15%, and haven’t replaced staff that either leave or retire) and waitlist times (which they claim have gone down)all plays a role in this vicious cycle that we have to face now.
I wish we as healthcare providers could do a lot more for people like your family member but our hands are basically tied. Management doesn’t listen to us so I don’t know what the answer is.
Best of luck, I feel for you, I do.
K
I’m praying for Penny. For you. As an American I complain about healthcare… the cost, neglect, malpractice, staff shortage, bad care, etc. Health care is in a crisis everywhere. And it’s terribly sad. Of course, if we were all rich and/or famous we’d receive excellent care. But 75% of us aren’t rich and/or famous. Sadly we have to suffer. And it’s the sick ones who pay the price (literally and figuratively).
Thank you for this post… I’m here from Michele’s!
Hi,
Living in Quebec, the difference in healthcare/hospital standards is quite noticeable coming from Ontario. However, I never needed to use the system so much until I damaged my eye and then had a baby. I am appalled at the dilapitated (sp?) hallways and overall lack of upkeep that I am assuming can not be afforded. Not to mention the long waiting lists etc. that you describe.
However, I don’t want our “free” healthcare to be ruled out and have private healthcare take-over – as we have seen the cons to this system as well. I, obviously, do not have an answer to this problem. Sadly.
It is such a sad state of affairs – I wish your friend the best in recovery.
Annabelle(Oh and I am here from Michele’s)
Hi guys! Thanks so much for your comments and well-wishes for Penney (she reads this site, as well). It seems that I’m not the only one who is frustrated with the health system here in Canada, and I guess albeit different, the American system also has many problems. I’m determined to find a way to be a vocal advocate for improved healthcare in this country, and Brad, I will look into that link — Thank you!
Here’s hoping we can see some positive change, in the coming months and years for both countries.
You know I’ve heard a lot about the problems over there regarding heatlh care, sounds like it sucks…a lot. Good luck to your family member.
Challenges also in the UK although there are some large projects to try to put more money into frontline action. There are a lot of problems too though, becasue the press watches the health sector like a hawk and at the first sign of a problem it is all over the news.
This can make the decision makers more timid as they try to improve the processes and care and it can create a negative spiral. What has impressed me in my dealings with some of theses folk is that they really do care about the end citizen/patient and I find it unfortunate when press and politicians use it for ratings advantage.
Thanks for dropping by.
rashbre
So weird. I was just hearing on the radio the other day about how the Canadian health care system is such that people wait FOREVER to get treatment. Its amazing to me that they don’t seem to be doing anything about it. It is just horrible.