Health Care Crisis

The ClubHouse: General Archives: June - July Archives: Health Care Crisis

Flint

Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 03:07 pm Click here to edit this post
While Health care in Canada is free, it has suffered a lot from Government cut backs over the years. There aren't enough doctors or nurses to go around. Those we have are overworked.

In Nova Scotia, it has taken a turn for the worst. The Nurses and other Health Care Workers contracts had expired, and negotiations were bogging down. The Provincial Government in its infinite stupidity decided to act "decisively" before they were eligible to strike. Now, if they did strike the nurses didn't plan to shut down the health care system. It was public knowledge that emergency rooms would be kept open, only non-emergeny, non-life threatening treatment would really be affected. So, the government decide dthe solution was to pass legislation, Bill C68, which took away their right to strike, AND forced them to accept WHATEVER contract the government wanted them to take, and took away any legal recourse.

I am NOT a big fan of unions and striking. However, the governments actions went WAY past fair. It didn;t address any of the nurses concerns, like not having enough nurses. In fact, the government will be forcing them to work overtime. Premier Hamm stated publicly that the nurses have no where else to go. They would find the same situation all over Canada. He also smilingly stated yesterday, after the bill became law, that the nurses WOULD go back to work and would abide by the legislation. Why wouldn't they, if you believe they have no where to go.

The Premier's misguided belief ignores reality. One of the largest employers of Canadian health care workers is the US, quickly followed by the UK, Australia, and other European countries. Out of a 1 graduating class of 67 nurses at a local university last year only 16 stayed in Nova Scotia. the rest went south. Of course the nurses have a choice, they can choose to leave a place where they are treated like chattel.

So, as of yesterday afternoon, it is the law in Nova Scotia that the nurses can't strike, and have to accept whatever contract the government dictates. As of 4PM AST today, 2000 nurses announced they will be handing in their resignations, giving 2 weeks notice. In 2 weeks the people of Nova Scotia could be well and truly f*cked, thanks to the provincial government.

There had been a health care crisis for a while. One that needed to be addressed. However, the Premier has managed to take it from a manageable crisis to one of (no pun intended) epidemic proportions. Instead of the problem being a lack of workers it is now a matter of who would want to work in the field in Nova Scotia. Hopefully the government comes to its senses and quickly before it is too late. Unfortunately, I don't see it happening.

I am so glad that I had my surgery before the strike.

Flint

Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 03:09 pm Click here to edit this post
Here is a copy of my Letter to the Editor that was printed last week.

Hamm and Health Care Reality

We often hear about people, especially politicians, losing touch with reality. Rarely do we see such a prime example as Premier John Hamm over the health crisis and Nurses. It is hard to believe that the leader of a Province, AND a Doctor himself, could be so blind to reality of health care in Nova Scotia.

Premier Hamm stated that the nurses have no where to go. Basically, he said that their threat to leave Nova Scotia for places where they will be better paid is a hollow threat, there is no where to go. Which of course flies in the face of reality. Recruiters from the US and UK, as well as many other countries raid our universities for Doctors and Nurses every year!

Premier Hamm says: Where could the nurses go? How about Connecticut, where an emergency room nurse makes $40 US an hour, and they are willing to pay a $10,000 US sign up bonus for a 6 month contract. Where indeed, Mr. Premier.

Then we have his great "offer" to pull the legislation which would force contracts on them if they accept the last offer. So it is better to blackmail them into submission instead of legistalively order them I suppose. Mr. Hamm seems hell bent on backing the nurses into a corner where they will either have to give up their free will and accept whatever the government wants, or they will have to leave. The fact that these professionals do stay here speaks volumes for their dedication to the job and not the dollar. However, the treatment the Hamm government is trying to force on them makes me wonder how much longer they will be willing to stay in a Province where they are treated so shabbily.

I think we tend to take the health care system for granted until we need it. Just as we do with police and fire fighters. We expect Doctors, Nurses, and other health care workers to be there when we need them. To heal us, comfort us, and clean up after us. They deserve more than the disrespect our Premier is giving them. Hopefully he wakes up to reality before he does more harm to our health care system.

That is just my 2 cents.

Flint

Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 03:11 pm Click here to edit this post
Here is a link a friend a sent me if you want to show support.

http://www.yourvote.ca/

Cinnamongirl

Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 03:17 pm Click here to edit this post
We're having some huge problems over here in BC too. So many of our nurses (& hockey players! :)) are leaving to the US as well.
The gov't must step back up to the table & deal a fair hand. I'm not a fan of unions either but these nurses deserve much more than they're getting. What about arbritation/mediation?

Flint

Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 03:25 pm Click here to edit this post
Exactly CG. The NS government threw it all out the window when they took this course.

Not only do we now stand to lose most of our nurses, and other health care workers, but who the he!! would want to come work here in that field under these draconian conditions?

They didn't even want a huge raise. Our members of parliament (and soon the provincial government) will be giving themselves a greater raise. Their main concerns were being overworked, too little staff, hospital conditions. And because the Premier has his head stuck up his a$$, we are now facing an even worse crisis.

I wouldn;t want to be a Tory come the next election here. An old button/slogan has made a resurgence in light of the way the Conservatives have been acting:

The only good tory is a suppository.

Alib

Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 03:28 pm Click here to edit this post
Ontario is pretty bad as well, although the nurses aren't all leaving en masse. From my own personal experience, I have been waiting for nearly eight months to see an orthopedic surgeon regarding a torn miniscus in my knee. I see him next month and then have an unbelievable 8 to 12 months to wait for an MRI. After that, if I need surgery I have another 8 to 12 month wait. During all this waiting time I am in pain. As I had a bad reaction to Naproxin and am reluctant to try any other medication I am contolling the pain with advil and ice packs. My family doctor is apologetic but this is beyond anyone's contol as the government (both provincial and federal) have cut way too far back. I also have an eldery mother who is a victim of these cutbacks, especially in the area of home care. I shudder to think what might happen if she becomes ill and requires hospital care!!!

... and don't get me started on education cutbacks!

Alib

Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 03:34 pm Click here to edit this post
Flint,

I love that slogan! My mother worked for 25 years in a fedearl Minister's office, most of them during the liberal reign. When Joe Clark came to power in the 70's she was booted out of her job. She was understandably a wee bit bitter and told that slogan to anyone who would listen. It gave her much satisfaction.

Ali (from Ottawa ... a true government town!!)

Flint

Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 03:35 pm Click here to edit this post
I know exactly what you mean Alib.

I hurt my arm June 1st 2000. It took 3 months to see a specialist, and he was a quack. Then It took another 2 months to see another orthopedic surgeon. It was 7 months before I actually got tests run on my arm. My surgery was scheduled for Sept 24th 2001, almost 16 months AFTER I was injured. I lucked out and there was a cancellation 3 weeks ago, or I would be doubly screwed now, all non-emergency surgery is cancelled.

I have used Naproxin before, never had a bad reaction, but I have been on Vioxx for the last 13 mnths, and it helps. Does the same sort of job too. The only thing is it is a renal drug, and absorbed kidneys. So if you are on it, drink a lot of water.

My mother needed to get a Bone Density Scan to check for Osteoperosis. It would have been 12-20 months to get it done in Halifax. It took 5 months to get an appointment to have it done in a town about a 2.5-3 hour drive away. Luckily she opted for the shorter wait because it turns out she has mild Osteo and can start taking care of it right away.

Unfortunately, with the atitude of the tory government in NS, it doesn;t look like it will be getting better any time soon. :(

Highlander

Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 04:03 pm Click here to edit this post
Man, I thought it was bad here when I had to wait four hours in an emergency room and then a week for an orthopedist to look at my sons broken wrist.

I will say this a few years ago I broke a toe and ended up in a Canadian emergency room, I was amazed that the whole thing only cost me $150. My sons broken wrist cost 1,000 and I havent gotten all of the bills yet.

Alib

Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 04:27 pm Click here to edit this post
I guess that is the good part of our Canadian system, that it is "free". Although that also may be a part of the problem because there seems to be a lot of abuse cause there is no cost to the user. I know that a minimal "user" fee similar to what is in place in Sweden has been proposed here. I am really torn as to whether I agree or not. On the one hand, something has to be done to improve the system and stop abuse; but then, I wouldn't want cost to cause someone living at or near the poverty line to be denied health care due to lack of $$.

Flint

Thursday, June 28, 2001 - 07:18 pm Click here to edit this post
Of course the provincial govenrment is maintaining its arrogant stand. According to them the nurses are bluffing and won't quit. It doesn't matter that a lot of them have already signed their resignation forms. It doesn;t matter how badly the government has humiliated and isulted the nurses. These morons still refuse to accept reality.

The nurses deserve a he!! of a lot more respect than they have received. Let alone a proper offer. While I hate to see it happen, I don't blame them for resigning or wanting to get out of Nova Scotia. I applaud them for giving proper notice and not just saying screw you to the government.