Our health system is hurting our seniors

To the editor:

I would like to share with you the experience that my friend’s elderly mother has had over the last few months with our local health services.

She has been experiencing excruciating pain in her lower back and stomach since January 2018.

Because she had fallen in October 2017, her doctor was convinced the pain was connected to damage she did with the fall.

After numerous doctor visits, trips by ambulance to Emergency (because she is now not able to walk to the car), X-rays and ultrasound tests that basically showed nothing, medication changes, and her family doctor telling her “it’s all in your head,” they made one more trip to Emergency this week by ambulance.

The doctor on call at Emergency finally authorized a CAT scan and a scope into her stomach. That’s when they found a large cyst on her kidney and her stomach full of bleeding ulcers.

After the scope into her stomach was completed, she was taken back to Emergency and told they would get her ready to go home. She had spent the previous night on a bed in Emergency because there were no other beds available due to the fact that the majority of them are taken up by seniors waiting (for months and in some cases, years) to be placed in long term nursing homes.

But this Liberal Government in its exuberance to announce a “third balanced budget” doesn’t care about that. There is not one penny in the recently passed budget (which I was proud to vote against) to go towards opening any new long-term care facilities for those who need them. And in spite of the Health Minister and Premier’s rhetoric that “most seniors want to stay in their homes” I have to say that is a complete cop-out and excuse for not putting Nova Scotians’ hard earned dollars where they need it: to look after our most vulnerable and beloved elders when they are unable to look after themselves any more.

She was left alone in a room with no buzzer to ring for help and no toilet which she needed to use.

She finally saw a doctor who told her there would be a new medication but gave no instructions on what foods she should be eating. Since when did our health care system exist by the rule, “if you don’t ask, we don’t tell?”

This is completely unacceptable to this Nova Scotian and her octogenarian mother who have both lived in Truro all their lives, paid taxes, brought up families and contributed in many ways to the community.

Although I can appreciate the fact that my friend’s mother actually has a family doctor – when so many now don’t – her doc only works two days a week and, like many, it’s a long wait to get an appointment.

Therefore, they have had to use the Walk-in Clinic and the Emergency department at CEHHA instead – both of which are overcrowded with long waits.

I don’t blame the doctors who are overworked and stressed due to shortages, and I don’t blame the hospital staff who are also overworked and underpaid.

I blame the Premier and his entire Liberal Caucus.

Shame on you Mr. Premier for accepting less healthcare payments than we deserve from Ottawa without a fight – and for choosing to gloat and pat yourselves on the back for a balanced budget instead of using the People’s money to look after the People!

As an NDP Opposition member I have often used my voice to question your short- sighted decisions, and a front row seat in the House of Assembly from which to watch your unabashed yet completely underserved self-congratulatory behaviour.

When is our Provincial government going to put our money where their mouth is and actually act to help our seniors by building more Long Term Care facilities and paying properly for staff and food budgets, and hiring more real doctors instead of just regurgitating talking points written by one of your six-figured spin doctors?

I and my constituents respectfully await your response.

Lenore Zann, MLA

Truro-bible Hill-millbrook-salmon River