Our new Canadian Health care system......Rant (page 2)

Scully

The idea that our Canadian health care system is "free" is a gross misconception. There is a reason why Canadians pay such high taxes, and "Universal Health Care" is a big part of that reason.

One of the problems that I see, as a health care professional, is that many people - operating under the misconception that our health care is "free" - use the system needlessly and excessively. They go to the ER for a stuffy nose. They go to the doctor for a cold. If they don't like what one doctor says, they run to another for a second opinion, and when they don't like what that one says, they go to another, and so on.

I have seen patients take for granted and sometimes even abuse the services that are provided to them - they treat a hospital stay like a holiday and expect to be waited on hand and foot by the nurses who are often working with a heavier patient load than is safe. I have seen patients attempt to take hospital linens and other supplies home with them. They assume that it's all "covered" by our "free" health care system, so why not?

We are very fortunate to have the vast amount of services that we do have, and that they are available for anyone who needs them - including those who pay no taxes, refugees, and those who are otherwise able-bodied but choose to abuse the social assistance program. That is part and parcel of "universality". It costs a huge amount of money to service the health care needs of 36 million people, and yes, the money could be much better spent (IMHO) on providing services as opposed to lining the pockets of administrators and politicians.

Dalton McGuinty needs to be taken to task for his lying to the people of Ontario. Our taxes went up in the late 80s when we stopped paying OHIP premiums on our pay cheques. Now that he is re-introducing OHIP premiums to be deducted from our pay cheques, we don't seem to be getting a break on our taxes to offset that. Is anyone surprised by that?

Write to your MLA and urge them to take Dalton McGuinty to task if you feel strongly enough about this issue. Political leaders have been ousted from their positions in a vote of non-confidence in the past (remember Joe Clark?) and it can happen again. I believe it should happen to Dalton McGuinty. But then again, I didn't vote for him.

Love, Scully

morty

ahhh Scully, you are always wise with your opinon and I was hoping that you saw my post to give your 2 cents. I honestly enjoy reading your feedback....

I guess with being raised as a jw, I have never really understood the polical lingo...Its all starting to be clear to me now...Lies, lies and more lies...Dalton Mcguinty did make alot of promises that he broke.He should be held accountable for them.

Yes, I also have to agree with you on the part of people taking advantage of the system. Running to the ER for a cold and a second and third opinion is a bit far fetched.They are wasting the doctors and nurses time. That does make sense that it would hold up others vauleable time of sitting on the Hurry up and wait list.This does make me very angry about the whole thing.Then there is the ones taking advantage of the system. They use it abuse it, and then when one really does need it, it is not available.( another rant)

Do you have a web site of an address that we can write to/about Dalton Mcguinty lieing to us like that? I would love to be able to give my 2 cents.

Thank-you for all your feed back...I am looking for a more of a better understanding of our health care system...

Morty

xjw_b12

There is no such thing as free health care. They should never have cancelled the premiums 15 or so years ago. All they did was shift the numbers around.

I am sick and tired of the elected government controlling our finances. It should be in the hands of an arms length independant Comptroller, that follows standard accounting proceedures. That way we wouldn't get the old song and dance every time a new budget is released. The way it is now, all we get is a bunch of Enron / Worldcom bullshit.

iiz2cool

It should be in the hands of an arms length independant Comptroller, that follows standard accounting proceedures.

Best idea I've heard in a long time. But it won't happen. It's too reasonable.

Walter

talesin

Morton's

If you look in your phonebook, under the provincial government, the Office of the Premier should be listed. Should be a website you could find through google as well. If you have a problems, just pm me and I'll help ya out! I'll write a letter too, if you like.

You know what they say, others take to the streets in revolution, but Canadians write letters!

It ticks me off when I see folks in the emerg for minor nonemergencies. And what's up with going to the doctor when you have a cold? arrrggghh, they want drugs for everything. As far as second opinions go, well, I would still be in a lot of pain and suffering right now if I hadn't gone for one, BUT I can see how that could be abused. It's better to check out who the best specialists are, and ensure your GP refers you to one of them, imho. My GP is excellent, so I am lucky in that he doesn't refer to a**holes. OTOH, I interviewed about 10 doctors before I chose him, so it's not really 'luck. After all, he is my primary health care provider, and my health is MY responsibility, not his.

talesin

XJW

You guys used to pay premiums? We have always had the provincial tax, which was the NS Health Tax (7%) before the GD BST (don't get me started on THAT). Ever since the 'blended' tax came in, the province has changed the procedure and we no longer get the health care dollars we used to. Mulroney should be drawn and quartered for that particular little deal.

You are right ---> standard accounting procedures should be implemented. The money is THERE.

tal

iiz2cool

I interviewed about 10 doctors before I chose him

It must be nice to be able to interview doctors. After I moved a few years ago it took 2 years before I could find a local doctor that was accepting new patients. Until then I had a 30 minute drive to get to my old one.

funkyderek

how is free medical socialism??

Because medical care is not free. Doctors and nurses have to be paid. Medicines, equipment, buildings etc. all have to be paid for. If the people receiving the benefits aren't the ones paying, then it's socialism (or theft, whichever term you prefer).

jwsons

So what we pay "The Levy" for ?

jwsons

Elsewhere

Ok, as and American I'm a bit unknowledgeable about managed care... buy why have you been waiting for two years to have an operation? If it is needed, then it should be done at the earliest possible time.

Is this a side effect of managed care? Operation queues?

Our new Canadian Health care system......Rant

Share this