Health services hardly timely

 

Published on www.saltwire.com July 2023

Health services hardly timely

I am deeply saddened by the state of our medical system.

My daughter got a concussion while on a school trip on March 10. While in emerg, she was given a referral for an MRI. Because of the high level of radiation during a CAT scan, they wanted to wait for an MRI. Fine.

Just this week, we received her appointment for Aug. 4. That is just shy of five months of waiting. How is that the best we can do?

In the meantime, my daughter has suffered from chronic migraines and saccades (Google it), missed three months of school, a Quebec trip and life in general.

She has been in and out of emerg and family doctor’s appointments, trying desperately to get more help than simply “alternate between Tylenol and Advil for the pain.”

As a result of the chronic pain and missing out on her normal life, she was diagnosed with a disorder caused by stress and/or brain injury.

If we leave people to suffer, things only get worse. Doesn’t that then cause more problems for the medical system?

People cannot afford to wait months or years for necessary appointments and services. We have to do better.

The medical system is failing Nova Scotians, especially when it comes to mental health.

I love this province more than maybe anyone, but it is a very stressful, expensive time to live here. Now what?