OK, Envy here! But is there adequate healthcare outside of metro areas? Canada like the US has large areas of sparse population. 29 counties in Colorado have NO hospital/emergency clinic. Rural health is important if you're in an accident & all you've got are volunteers. demography.dola.colorado.gov

There are a very few people who might have to travel a couple hours to get hospital care, but it's a rare place that wouldn't have a GP within short range. I think a couple of our Inuit communities in the far north are underserved. Each province runs it their way. Cons are trying to privatize.

Colorado enacted a law setting aside several million to help find drs, fund computer tech (electronic records), clinic offices, training for EMTs, providing updated equipment etc. But that's one state out of 50. And even then, getting med staff to stay when they can make $$ elsewhere.

We have similar programs where new docs are encouraged to go to remote areas to practice for a few years. It's good for everyone.

My first fertility doc was from Toronto. He moved to ABQ, NM because he couldn't make 'enough money' in the socialized system. He was also an idiot & did more damage than good. I suspect he may have been encouraged to leave Canada. But price doesn't guarantee good healthcare. Diligence does.

I wish I was capped at $300k a year lol. Good problems.

Yes!

In Ontario we have a conservative premier (GOP lite). They’ve closed many rural hospitals the last few years or limited occupancy.

(He was a necessary evil to ensure a liberal government federally since Canada can't bear to have mirror governments in Ontario and federally.) Since the Rae days there's little chance of the NDP taking Ontario again.

Jack Layton was about as close as they will ever get. Maybe even Ed Broadbent. Those were good guys.

Jack Layton was Ed Broadbent's puppet. He literally said in an interview that he needed a face for his party because his own just wouldn't do. Jack was my neighbour (after losing his co-op status) and was only interested in bike lanes!

In Quebec, at least in the Eastern Townships, the first two hours of parking are free. I hear complaints re: waits but that’s mostly small things, or trying to see a dermatologist. My experience has been: if you have an urgent concern, it is looked after urgently.

Indeed. I get a yearly notice about my mammogram (I have dense breasts so they keep a close eye on me) and in August, I just booked for December; but if I found a lump and my doctor said I needed a mammogram, I'd get one within two weeks.

I’ve had some cardiology-related appointments after a scare in early June - all prompt & efficient and tightly scheduled. Cardiologist, echo & stress tests (separate and together), follow up with GP … no complaints at all.

Oh, great: now you’re all just out here bragging! Just kidding - good for you all!!

We're largely grateful that we are never bankrupted because of medical bills. It is difficult to comprehend the Republican mentality around this issue, but Ayn Rand set it out nicely (surely as a cautionary tale).

The idea that universal healthcare creates long wait times is a myth. It's simply not true. Now, hospital emergency room wait times can be long, but that's really the only situation where we can complain. 🤷‍♀️🇨🇦

Out of interest, what do you consider a long wait in A+E? I’m British and we usually get triaged immediately but then we can wait 2-4 hours or so before we see a doctor.

I think 2 to 4 hours is a short waiting time, and I'm thinking that in the context of my age and experience being in the ER over ~50 years. 6 to 8 hours would be a very long wait.

It depends also on the time of day you attend, and the moon phase, and here in Toronto, Canada the political phase, as every Conservative government that gets elected fires thousands of nurses right away, then in two years after the consequences hit hard, hire a bunch back,as if heros...

This way, the get rid of higher costing nurses who have seen pay hikes to pay new nurses a starting wage, and they've saved two years of wages to pay them, and if reelected two years later, start the cycle all over again. But a 4 hr. wait (say, for stitches) not unusual. Kidneys, right away.

Also, if you've come by ambulance (only $45) you get preferred treatment so as to release the EMTs who must stay with you until admitted.

My dad was forced into retirement by the Harris government. Mum was a very experienced senior charge nurse - relegated to nights after administrators took over the hospitals. (she quit rather than do regular nights) My folks subsequently left Ontario to return to Quebec.

"Constructive dismissal", even more heinous. I f'n hate the Conservatives, and even more now that they are really the Reform Party.

F'n Harris. PeePee is "most like him" according to a recent article I saw. Harris cut my sister's monthly benefits by $200/mo (single mom 4 kids). I tried to help giving her $100/mo out of my pocket.

In the US, it’s not strange to hear stories of waiting in the ER for 6-8 hrs. They obviously triage but when the volume of patients is high and many hospitals are understaffed, you can only do so much.

This seems to be a common big city problem here as well, one that could be partially solved by hiring / training more general practitioners or opening walk in clinics for those without a doctor. There is a serious lack of GPs here.

Also I don’t live in the big city - I tend to find myself at smaller regional hospitals that are less likely to see high volume (two larger towns near me)

It depends … triage is immediate. Allergic reaction: they see you quickly. I went for a possible detached retina last winter & was seen in an hour. Some complain of very long waits, many hours long. Depends too how busy that ER is …

Sorry (in Canadian) :)

The nicest of sorries then! Much appreciated…*whispers “help us”* 🤣

Wish we *could* help somehow. But, sorry to say, you guys are pretty screwed at this time. Even if T kicks the bucket, you then have even more dangerous whackadoodle next in line. And we’re feeling too, with the whack job economics.

No more Bick's pickles for a while!

The sentiment is appreciated, nonetheless.