Janet Walker is a nurse with a mission. She is documenting Canadian medical stories as part of a research project.
http://www.findinghealthcare.ca
As a nurse and a recovering patient, I understand why this is so important.
With many voices, we can make change.
People who are recovering don’t always have the time to look at making change, as all their energy are focused on getting well.
After recovering, you are just thankful for “making it alive”.
Family or friends are too dragged out by the day to day and the desire to make change just waivers.
Canadians hear promises of timely care but the reality of this to the majority of Canadians is unbelievable until they get ill and are told they have to wait 6 months for a MRI or worse have a false negative diagnosis of cancer. In a Metroland interview, the then newly elected Deb Matthews as health minister stated;“Are we looking at ways to reduce out-of-country? Absolutely yes.”
Matthews says her ministry is taking steps to improve services and access across Ontario so fewer patients will need to go to the U.S.
The main choice is to leave and get timely and appropriate care to LIVE- whether you are Stuart Taylor in 2007 took his son Brandon and mortgaged his house to pay $28,000 in Florida for minimally invasive back laser microsurgery that was successful and helped him enroll in engineering. Or Danny Williams, the Premier of Labrador and Newfoundland who leaves to go to the US for heart surgery.
The ironic part is that I proposed a pro bono ER pilot project for reduced ER times developed by a leading ER physician in the US to reduce time from “door to physician” in 9 mins. The Ministry of Long Term Health admitted they did not know what to do because it is offered free and I am still waiting to hear back.
So as a groundswell to initiate change- let us spread the word for the future of our healthcare.
The reality is that more and more Canadians are leaving Canada for healthcare not out of choice but need.
Share this blog with others whether struggling or navigating with the system, to let them know there is a common voice.
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