When the doctor is out
It comes down to infrastructure, no matter what the topic. Today, we learned a bit more about the cracks in the foundation of medical care locally.
The family been “followed” by the same physician for a couple of decades. Although the collective health is good, there’s always something with kids. We’ve been fortunate to have someone who is competent, easy to talk with, available. And getting older. Like us. The MD has decided to add (retired) to the list of letters. And we’re now part of the “looking for a doctor” sector of the population.
First sign: a prescription that came with a bright orange tag. CETTE PRESCRIPTION N’EST PAS RENOUVELABLE. Yes, in capital letters, black on orange, with a X similar to a ballot marking. Clear enough. Not enough to claim that a miracle of modern pharmaceutical know-how had occurred. Rather, a warning that things won’t be the same, soon.
After a call to the drug store, a truce was declared. Enough time to get “one last renewal”. But that won’t get us through the good times, let alone the bad. The pharmacist mentioned that three doctors had abandoned local practice; not an emergency in a city of several hundred thousand, but a sign that the system is stretched.
On the CBC website, I spotted the following notice: … meeting scheduled for this evening has been cancelled due to pending forecast. What on earth does that mean?
And, like the phoenix, the American Idol is back. New faces, old flavours. And I’m a sucker for karaoke.
