Erosion of Resistence
I wonder, if the real goal behind all the red tape, all the delay tactics, by Government, is simply to wear a person down? Do they care, that they endanger people’s health, by their refusal to treat people with dignity? Do they care, that one day, they too will be in their nineties, and possibly in need of help or support?
WE ARE RUNNING OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AS A BUSINESS, INSTEAD OF IT BEING A NECESSARY PART OF LIFE.
Adrian Dix is the health critic for the provincial NDP, and still no reply from him, on the policies his party have, in regards to private contracts, or health care.
Ida Jong, our Liberal MLA, has decided, apparently, that the issue of private contracts has been settled, because Beacon Community Services agreed to provide regular health workers, and so to her, it seems the fire is out.
The Times Colonist has yet to reply, despite already having a reporter looking into the growing issue of complaints about Beacon Community Services, and the VIHA contract to them.
Strange isn’t it, until you realize:
ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY, NOT THE PEOPLE.
BC Medical Services
From one blue ribbon panel, to another, they all proclaim that our National Health Plan is good, but needs some care, to make it more efficient, more responsive to the needs of the people. They all agree that it is a better solution than a two tier system, which Gordon Campbell is moving towards, which Stephen Harper would love to see. Both seem unaware of the blue ribbon panel reports, or they simply are disregarding it, in favor of the plans put forth by their corporate sponsors.
I have no personal association with any Health Care services, whether it be my profession, or vocation. I am not a Nurse, Doctor, or Technician. I am not affiliated with any political party, nor am I a member of any Union.
I am simply, a son who wants to make sure that his mother’s remaining days, weeks, months, or hopefully years, are as comfortable, pleasant, as possible. In short, I want her to get the care she is deserving of, for being 92 years old.
I think that it is time, that people woke up to the simple reality of life. THEY WILL SOON BE OLDER, IN NEED OF THE CARE OF ANOTHER, SUCH AS DOCTORS, NURSES, ORDERLIES, HOME SUPPORT WORKERS. We, as citizens, can no longer sit by and allow our destiny, our so called ” Golden Years ” to be dictated to, by Unions, Business, & Political Hacks.
In short. THE SYSTEM.
Today, we seem to be under the impression, that Health Care has to be profitable. Now, I don’t know when that changed, or came into being, but frankly, I DON’T BUY IT.
I am not some die hard socialist who believes that the solution to every problem, rests with Government. HOWEVER, I do believe that Government does have a role to play. Unfortunately, it seems today that the role Government is playing, is to feed the private coffers of Big Business, Special Interest Groups, & Big Labour.
Individual people, are being forgotten, or ignored, in return to keep expenses down, to keep profits up, and to keep people earning more.
We are so consumed by the need for money, for more profits, that we are forgetting the very principles for which our society has been founded on. People in the Health Industry (which is a term that infuriates me) have forgotten, that their role is to help people, not machines, not cattle.
Don’t get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong in making money, but should it be in Health Care? Should we be so consumed by profits, that we ignore the needs of the people under our care? See, that is why I believe, that Government should be the lead in Health Care. Not because they are more efficient, or anything else, but that they DO NOT HAVE TO SHOW A PROFIT EVERY QUARTER!
I am all for getting value for my tax dollar, but I am also aware that certain areas of Government are not going to come in on budget. For example, Education is not run at a profit, now is it? Neither is Law Enforcement, so why do we expect Health Care to be?
Cost Effective is not synonymous with Profits.
As a user of our Health Care System, I can honestly say that it isn’t about any one thing, that makes it so costly. I can see that equipment is a huge expense, as is labour, but frankly, it is how the system that governs all that, makes for a costly program. We are WASTING the most important asset we have, which is the PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE SYSTEM.
We are so consumed with the cost, that we are forgetting what the system is for. It isn’t about keeping staff on their toes, isn’t about having fancy new equipent the instant they are invented. It certainly isn’t about making money to pay for new roads either.
The system in place today, is geared towards monitoring services provided, not in insuring that the appropriate services are given. It isn’t about the users of the health system, but, is about those working for the health system. It is also, about scoring brownie points with the electorate, rather than in running a truly efficient health care system.
Hospital Visit
Mom’s journey to have her hand looked at, began bad enough.
I goofed and didn’t see that it was indeed broke, but as I said before, least I was smart enough to get a pro to come look. Then it seemed like it would be a simple matter, of having an x-ray and then having it set, if it indeed was broken.
Arriving at the Royal Jubilee Hospital, we went to Medical Imaging ( don’t you love the fancy names they give things? ) where the requisition from the doctor was already there, and off we went to the waiting room. Nice one too, comfy chairs (more or less) and quiet. No one else was really there.
Didn’t take long, and there was Mom, and the technician. AND HERE is where it went downhill. She told us that it was indeed a fracture, that needed mending, ( I assumed cast ) and that the hospital doctor told her to take us to Emergency, where they would look after it.
My question is, why do Doctors & even the Hospital itself, send everyone to Emergency for something?
To begin with, registration was somehow complicated. Mom is left at the triage area, with a piece of paper. I have no idea what was on it, but the triage nurse didn’t seem to, either. In fact, she had to call around, to see who dropped us off there, and why.
What, the piece of paper was a love note or something?
Now the waiting area in Emergency was empty, but that is to lull people in thinking it is not busy. Around the corner you go, to the next “waiting area” at the end of the blue dots on the floor. And there you just sit. Seriously, no one greets you, no one comes over to see who you are, or anything. You just sit & wait.
Medical Imaging had some nice chairs, but the emergency area is long metal bench type seats. The backs of the bench, lean so you are basically sitting in a slouched position. There are no vending machines, no magazines, just the noise of a bustling emergency area.
You know, it is even hard to figure out, at first glance, where the Nurses’ station is. Like that is so comforting to someone who is in pain, or well, in a sort of state of shock. I mean think about it.
I guess you hope that someone knows you are there, but after waiting, & waiting, one has to wonder if somehow, the whole system is nothing but guesswork and happenstance. Names are called, and it seems, that there are actually more than just the one for patients. So doesn’t it make sense that someone coming into that area, would need to check in, and be allocated where to wait? Obviously not under VIHA ( Vancouver Island Health Authority ) facilities.
There is absolutely no reason, that a person 92 years old, has to be kept waiting for over five hours, to get a cast on.
There is absolutely no reason why one’s own physician should NOT be notified of results, & of what course of action is being considered.
YET THAT IS WHAT VIHA DOES.
HEALTH CARE in Canada is a pricey luxury. It is taxpayer money being spent, and you know, I think that in most cases, Government wishes it was still private care. They seem to do everything they can, to undermine the meaning of health care, and the result is, people are suffering needlessly.
It seems to me, that right now, not very many health professionals seem to care about patient care. Whether it is the Doctors, the Nurses, Orderlies, or Administrators & Government, no one seems to take into account, THE PEOPLE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SERVING, THE PATIENTS.
Tuesday July 14
Mom took a fall today.
Just reading that sends shivers down my back, but so began our nightmare into the British Columbia Medical System. It is also going to be result in some changes, personally and online.
Without even getting a chance to have her breakfast, mom tripped or something gave way, and she fell onto the floor by the table. Serious, but it could have been worse. At the time, it seemed no different than many of her previous falls, which would result in some tenderness, and some bruising.
One thing I should note, is that when I contacted our new physician for Mom, Doctor Ted Rosenberg, the support was excellent. His nurse, Ann, arrived around noon, and thankfully too.
I should note, that the fall happened about 9:40 am, and that the nurse arrived around Noon, mainly because I failed to assess the situation properly. She didn’t seem like she had broken anything, was able to move her hand and all, though in some pain. So in my report to our Doctor, I thought she hadn’t broken anything, but still wanted someone to look. Thankfully I am not an arrogant bastard, who is unwilling to seek outside opinions.
Bottom line, is we went to the Royal Jubilee Hospital here, to have her wrist x-rayed. The Nurse thought it might have a small fracture but that in her view, it was broken. She was 100% right, it turns out.
Mom had a “Displaced Fracture” which meant, well either surgery to correct, or an attempt to just set the break back into place. Given her age, health, surgery was out, and so some five to six hours later, we got home, with her wrist in a cast.
