Fifty thousand New Brunswickers don’t have a family doctor. In six months’ time, “Albert” will be one of them. We’ve asked New Brunswick doctors to help us identify the issues at the heart of our doctor shortage. Albert’s story—adapted from the stories we heard over and over again—gives an insight into why so many New Brunswickers don’t have a doctor. “Albert” lives in rural New Brunswick where he worked in construction for 32 years before retiring last May. There’s a history of heart disease in his family, and a few years ago Albert had to have a pacemaker put in, so he thought it might be a good time to start taking things a bit easier. Albert’s wife Marie-Thérèse worries about her husband’s health. She makes sure that he gets in to see his doctor regularly to keep an eye on his blood pressure and cholesterol levels and to monitor his prescriptions. But a couple of months ago, Albert’s family doctor announced that she would be giving up her family practice and retiring. Albert can try to register with a practice some 90 kilometers away that is taking new patients, but there’s no way they’ll be able to make that drive in the winter. Meanwhile, gas is expensive at the best of times, and driving 90 kilometers each way is going to be hard on a pensioner’s budget. Albert has lived in the same small town his whole life, and he’s always had a doctor. Albert and Marie-Thérèse are not asking for special treatment, just access to the same services they always had, the same ones all Canadians are supposed to enjoy. Did your doctor retire, switch their practice, or move on? Despite their best efforts, many can’t find a replacement for their patients before they go. What’s your story? https://youtube/watch?v=HWFrDtYJSbU
Posted on: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 16:41:12 +0000
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