Health care access frustrating for fire evacuees without ID
Fort McMurray wildfire evacuees could be going home soon, but, as one father found out, in the meantime they’ll have to take a couple of extra steps for health care.
DaPeng Xu left Fort McMurray on May 3 and said he has appreciated the kindness Edmontonians have provided.
But when his son Jacob got sick recently, he had what he calls an “unhappy experience” visiting a nearby walk-in clinic.
“We waited about 45 minutes and it was finally our turn and the front desk worker told me I need an ID for my four-year-old boy to prove it is him,” Xu said in an email.
He told the staff that his belongings were burned in the fire, but without identification they couldn’t see the child, who was experiencing a skin rash Xu believed to be an allergic reaction. Instead, the staff suggested he get a temporary ID from the provincial government.
“What kind of temporary ID can Alberta government issue to a fouryear-old boy, and do we really need it before we can get medical care?” Xu asked.
The answer, it turns out, is no. But it involves one extra step.
The province is suggesting evacuees call Health Link at 811 to get more information on medical issues.
For non-serious conditions, doctors and nurses are on standby to answer questions. They also have a list of physicians in different parts of the city to offer services to people without identification.
Xu ended up taking his son to the emergency department, which is the final option the province suggests for evacuee health issues, but he feels more information should be given to evacuees in need of health care.
More information can be found online through the Alberta Health Services website.