If there's one issue that always seems to rile people and which everyone has a horror story to one-up the other, it's in the field of health care. This is not surprising, as good health is of paramount importance to all of us.
If there's one issue that always seems to rile people and which everyone has a horror story to one-up the other, it's in the field of health care. This is not surprising, as good health is of paramount importance to all of us.
So it was hardly surprising that one week into the third floor closure of the hospital, there were complaints from several people about trying to find walk-in doctor services in St. Paul. The response from some quarters was to forget about St. Paul, and simply drive to Bonnyville or Edmonton, never mind that such a move would put extra pressures on health care professionals in these outside centres.
There is no question that trying to access health care can be frustrating when roadblocks emerge. We've all spent hours in a waiting room, feeling agonizing pain, consoling a sick child, or waiting with a loved one to see a doctor.
However, through the frustration, it's important to recognize that every person involved in the running of clinics and hospitals has an incredible job to do in keeping up with the demands of everything from runny noses to infections to emergency situations requiring critical and urgent care.
On top of that, health care workers must contend with risks to their own health and safety; last week, the United Nurses of Alberta drew attention to the fact that its nurses are now having to deal with suspected cases of Ebola. While the risk of the virus appearing in Alberta is low, the union noted there had been a lack of preparation and information given to nurses on handling patients who may have a potentially deadly infectious disease.
Doctors, nurses and other health care professionals are only human. They can not be expected to have the right answers always, to be available at all times, or to always put patients' needs before their own.
The closure of the hospital's third floor for walk-in services has clearly posed some challenges for understandably frustrated patients, but this is a time of transition and change. Let's give our professionals a chance before giving up on St. Paul health care.
