Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Our Health Care System

Canada has always been known for its health care system. Costs have been very minimal with coverage through the Province health care coverage. The main thing in Canada is the shortage of Doctors and Nurses. Recently Doctors have left to go to the United States as there is more funding for research etc. There has been work continually on new buildings in our city, a new Heart institute and it sits empty because of cutbacks and lack of resources. Recently it was announced that there was going to be a 15 percent decreases on elective surgery...this includes some cancer patients, brain surgeries, etc...Elective, they are necessary, I think it is about 35 percent of individuals can not find doctors,,,so they end up at medicentres where the care is not the same as going to a family doctor. People sit for hours in emergency waiting areas sometimes for fourteen or more hours. Yesterday I spoke to a nurse who says that because the rooms are all so full, it is not uncommon for people to be in a hallway bed not for hours, but for days and weeks. Also you better hope you have family that can be with you to make sure you are given the care we need. It was also announced that for seniors, they will look at thier income to determine various costs, the more income you make the more you will be charged.....I have 3 great doctors and have been very blessed to find a good doctor. My doctor previously had died of a brain tumor. He was wonderful. It took me a long time to find a new doctor and you have to see them for a consultation. They choose their patients, not always taking seniors due to the fact of aging and more time is usually spent with a senior....I don't know, I expect that things will only get worse as our society is aging. My theory is this...If someone is sick, they are entitled to see a doctor and deserve the best care possible....being on waiting lists for a few years for some surgeries is ridiculous. The doctors or most are very frustrated with the entire system and have said as much. Some individuals have gone to have life saving surgeries in the U.S. and of course end up paying thousand and thousands of dollars. It needs to be looked into and not by a member of parliament that is concerned aboout money crunching and keeping his job....Oh and how about 25% increases to the board members....anyhow it makes me wonder how people with a disability of 827 paying 300 for medication are able to survive. Hopefully some common sense will pervail. .....enough of that for today....we awoke to more snow on the ground, hopefully it will melt today!My company is still here and we have had such a wonderful visit. It is good to know my newphew as a young man. He has a wonderful girlfriend! He says she is perfect! So I will be checking all your blogs tomorrow to see what everyone has been up to. Holly I hope you are feeling better. Take Care to all.

8 comments:

  1. It just seems like everything is falling apart, and always the dollar bill is the bottom line. ... I can't believe you have snow; it's been over 100 degrees here for 13 days now. Can I come sleep UNDER your sofa? all curled up in a blankie?

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  2. no system is ever perfect is it? since I'm unemployed I have no health insurance at all - so I hope nothing major comes up

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  3. Oh... this issue burns me up and scares me!! My grandparents were some of the hardest working folks and they slipped through the cracks. Not enough coverage. Not enough money. It was an incredibly infuriating and helpless time in our family.

    I plan to get my nursing degree soon, but I will volunteer and dedicate my time to truly helping the ones that need it. Screw the red tape. I'm sick of it!!

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  4. Toni, of course you can sleep on, not under my couch. LOL.

    Char, try not to worry. I know that is easy to say, but I do mean it...things always seem to sort themselves out. Big Hug Girlfriend!

    Cam I totally agree with you. I am sick of the red tape and all the so called office politics and procedures to follow. Just do the right thing would be the best policy. I hope you do get your nursing career! In the meantime we will just keep going forward. Take Care.

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  5. I am printing this out!!! Thanks for the info! Hope you had a painfree day!

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  6. No ptoblem Lois, what are you using it for?Take Care, cinner

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  7. Cinner:
    The true pity of all of this for Canada is that the U.S. hasn't learned from your trials and failures. And, the current administration is going to jam a similiar scenario down our throats and call it health care reform. It's absolutely frightening to me. And, I am not certain how it will end for any of us. Very sad.

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  8. Yes it is a very sad situation no matter how you look at it. I know we are still better than most countries,,,but too many are falling through the cracks. Seniors that have paid taxes year after year should not suddenly have to pay for care. It is ridiculous and heart wrenching.

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