Reply #28: Yes. it can really, really suck.

[polly7]

My Dad is in for transfusions (3 units) that have to come on the bus from the city twice a week, has treatments for an iron overload syndrome he's since developed, once a week, and his darn doctor (sarcasm; the whole area adores him, the smartest, kindest person I know who gives 100% for every pt.) only walks back and forth from the clinic (his clinic is almost next to the hospital) two or three times to relay him what the specialist says when he gets back to him and check up on his blood and iron levels. My Dad refused the TV because it was going to cost $5.00 a day ....... yet they gave it to him free for some reason. His room looks like a hotel suite ........... but, no flowers, no fridge. So far, all this has cost him zilch, apart from gas, meals and hotel rooms in the city - which are cheaper if you are in for medical reasons and can be claimed on income tax.

Sorry for the sarcasm, this is a true story and my father is in rough shape, but he's seen specialist after specialist within weeks ....... not months, and gotten great care all along.

I do have some complaints, the lack of access to care in northern communities apart from an RN or PA (not dissing them, they are fantastic but lack the ability and equipment for some things) and no way to get out during an emergency when weather is bad, a lack of sufficient doctors in rural communities mostly everywhere, and wait times for certain procedures such as joint replacement. I feel for those people, the pain must be terrible. I believe those wait times are getting shorter, and they are working hard to reduce them.