Vancouver Island Health Authority
I can’t recall who set this up, it was either under the NDP or the previous Social Credit governments, that split up health care, into regions. Could even have been the Campbell Liberals, but the fact is, it is a mistake.
There is an old saying, “too many cooks, spoil the broth” and that is the case here.
Dealing with VIHA is not simple. The buracrcy of it all, is just another layer to insulate the big shots in Victoria, such as the Minister of Health. And that makes it hard for people like me, to effect change, or to deal with issues.
I mean when you contact the liaison worker, to find out what the qualifications of home support workers are, and she can’t answer, because somehow it is a secret. Oh, she would like to know, but the powers that be, well, that seems to be information not for public consumption.
WHY?
It is our tax dollars being spent, to allow some private outfit, to make a buck. I think they make a lot more than a buck, and am wondering, if they aren’t cutting too many corners, that have some serious ramifications for those under their care?
Like my Mother.
I am seeing bruisng on her thigh, and this morning blood on her panties. Now, I don’t know, could be from hemmoroids, or a sore that popped, but then, the worker didn’t note them in the sacred yellow book, or tell me either. So how did it happen? Where did it come from? Just magically appeared?
And now, try to find out what to do. Called Ida Chong, our MLA, and was given the complaint number for VIHA. Nice answering machine, but not helpful, now is it. Wrote an email, even made a note on twitter, but what concerns me, is what about those who don’t have a family member to go to bat for them?
Are they simply left, to fall through the cracks, or in the harsh realities of life, simply fade away without anyone the wiser?
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.
