Micheline's Put-in
 
High price for free Medicare
As I write this, I'm sitting on a hospital bed awaiting an ultrasound that will determine if I have enough amniotic fluid left in my uterus to bring me to the time of my inducement, 3 days from now.
I was asked to sit and wait some 2 hours ago. At the time that I was initially asked to wait, the nurse that was assisting me had left to get the ultrasound machine. I'm positive that she had said that she was absenting herself to go get the ultrasound machine. I had figured that she would be back in 5 minutes…. As the time went by, so went my sanity. I dozed for a while (being woken up by a woman who was in labour….weirdest scream that I've ever heard), I read, I even cried out of frustration. Finally, I pressed the red button that calls out to the nurses' station (I've always wanted an opportunity to press that button). The nurse returned (sans machine!!!!). She explained that the doctor on call was very busy (delivering babies and stuff) and does not know when he will be able to see me. She then asked me what my own doctor has told me. In total frustration, I explained to her that my OWN doctor is too busy, that I can never get through to her by phone. When I get to see her person, she literally rushes me out the door after a whopping 3 minute visit!!!
After discussing some of the details of my case, she made it quite clear that I should stay (sensing my impatience and desire to leave). She was quite nice; she offered me some snacks, explained to me how to use the phone, propped up my bed, asked that I be patient and exited. I could sense that she was feeling bad. Well at least now I'm more comfortable and I know that my wait will be more than 5 minutes!!!! This does not excuse the fact that I ended up waiting for 3 hours. And don't get me started on the shortage of staff. I was scheduled for an inducement 2 days earlier and they had to turn me away due to lack of staffing.
My boyfriend reminded me that I should be grateful that here in Quebec, we get free Medicare. "OK", I thought, "but at what price??!!!". I've been trying to get in touch with my doctor for the last 4 days. She's simply too busy to talk to me directly. I must go through her assistant (who's a nurse) and to get to her, is a task and a half. The line is constantly busy. There is a recording stating how busy they are, that the assistant is only there for a few hours a day and that I should call back. NO WAY TO LEAVE A MESSAGE!!! On one particular day, I tried for 4 hours. Not consecutive mind you, but enough times throughout the four hours to make me a little wacky. I finally got fed up, called the hospital, asked if I could deal with them directly. They refused but very patiently and kindly offered to attempt to reach the said nurse themselves. It took another 14 hours before I got a response!!!!
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR MEDICAL SYSTEM???!!! I've heard so many horror stories over the years:
- People who wait for months to get an appointment with a specialist and out of frustration, give up. One particular case concerns an older gentlemen who, after waiting one full year, gave up on trying to get an appointment for a hip replacement.
- General Practitioners are no longer taking on new patients. This is very rough for people like a friend of mine who would most likely need to see a specialist for a bizarre heart problem but cannot see a specialist unless he's seen a GP first but there are no GP's out there that will take him on. I suppose he could go through the ER at the hospital but that is not my point.
- I once needed physiotherapy for a very bad back. I was told it was a minimum of a 6 week wait…I COULD BARELY WALK!!! I went private at 55$ / hour.
A few years ago, it was announced that Montreal was going to build this super hospital. Therefore, the politicians felt that many of the other hospitals would no longer be of service and proceeded to close them. I don't recall the number of hospitals that were shut down, though I know of 2 off the top of my head. This was over 8 years ago. We are now short hospitals and still no sign of this super hospital. As a result, staff is over worked, patients are loosing patience, and God only knows the amount of people who end up suffering needlessly due to this shortage.
My question to you is what should we do? Do we count our lucky stars that we actually have a system where we can get medical assistant relatively free of charge (we do pay via taxes). Or, do we express our concerns towards our politicians demanding better service. I'm truly at a loss here….
© Micheline's Put-In
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