Dear Editor,
There are big problems with our medical system, as well as getting into a home for seniors. We have a medical crisis here. I have an ageing parent who is not well, and I know I am not the only one.
Her doctor only works two days a week. To get an appointment we have to book 35 days out. How can one wait over a month when they are ill?
In this particular instance we took her to an Urgent Care Clinic and the episode took 6.5 hours.
The outcome was to call my doctor first thing the next morning, we were then back to square one with a wait of 35 days. She may be dead by then!
The receptionist bent the rules and scheduled a phone conversation with the doctor in one week. We have tried registering with another doctor who is accepting patients, but they too only work 2 days a week and will not take patients who already have a doctor.
This is common, doctors only working a few days a week in specific practices.
I asked the receptionist and I was told our medical system is awful, and doctors find better ways to earn more money and that is why they only come in a few days a week.
I believe part of the problem is that government funding does not make the profession of being a doctor desirable. Finding a doctor is nearly impossible. I always thought the US medical system to be crazy but now I am thinking it is no worse than our system.
I know there are many other people looking for doctors who can’t find one. This is crazy, it is 2023!
The next problem is finding Assisted Living and Long-Term Care for our ageing population. Unless you have money you could be waiting years to get into a home. We obviously do not have enough homes here on the North Shore.
We were fortunate to find my parents a home via the private route, as they would have had no chance going the public route.
What’s more, going the public route is rather scary. When we first started looking for a home we were told you would be on a waiting list, which could take a couple of years.
The next issue is if the home is Assisted Living and does not have a Long-Term facility, you would be moved to where one became available.
We were told if our parent was in Assisted Living in North Vancouver they could be placed as far away as Surrey or Langley for Long Term Care.
It has been said we have a housing crisis and this is no different for the elderly. Our medical system is in disarray. Time for big change is now.
Daryl Hoffman,
North Vancouver
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