A call to our Canadian Friends

[milesofsmiles]

I was listening to the radio today about how the Canadian health care system is not working so good. This is one persons perspective, but I thought I would put out the things this radio host is saying to find out if they are the rule or the exception.

There is a long waiting list to be seen by providers to make a diagnosis, then another waiting list to be taken care of. Example given: My toe hurts bad when I walk, it would take 3 month to be seen by the Dr. Then the Dr. says I need surgery, and schedules it for 3 months later. The host said that those that can afford it, go to the United States to get it taken care of faster. Is that true for even more serious problems like cancer? The last example the host explained was about a woman who was having contractions with twins. She called to come in to the hospital, but it was full in the maternity section and ended up putting her on a plane and flying her 3 hours to the nearest hospital. Yikes!!

Just want to be informed.

Thanks,

Miles

[AnneM]

I can't speak for Canada but this SURE sounds like the UK!! OUr healthcare service is VERY poor if you have something which is "chronic" and "non-life-threatening" .. but equally can be very good if the chips are down and its a matter of life or death !! ... many people from here now go to France or Germany to get their "chronic, non-life-threatening" operations done where there are no lonnnnnnngggg waiting lists as there are here in the UK...

Sounds like a very SIMILAR situation from what you are describing!!

[Linda]

My husband is a retired GM worker and the company most likely start taking away some of our benefits!!! It is starting to get really scary for our health care as well.

[milesofsmiles]

On the topic of benefits, is anything guaranteed any more. With social security, pensions, health insurance all saying they can't support the population, are we headed for another "Great Depression"?

Miles

[Linda]

I remember my dad talking about the great depression.....I hope we are not headed there!!!!