Orphan patients want answers from Dix

After 72 years of having a family physician I am now an “orphan patient” with the thousands of others in British Columbia due to the fact that my ex-family doctor has taken a new direction in health care.

My visits to his practice were every three months simply to reorder the few medications I am presently on as thankfully my health status is stable. My question to Health Minister Adrian Dix as well as the College of Physicians and Surgeons is this: Why are our very qualified pharmacists in B.C. prevented from reordering for stable patients?

This would allow those who are managing orphan patients in walk-in clinics more time for those with complex medical issues. Using pharmacists would decrease the present unsustainable workload of physicians and allow more time with those patients who have challenging medical issues thus preventing a medical crisis.

Not having enough family practice physicians or nurse practitioners, to me, is “patient neglect.”

Not being able to provide consistent care nor follow-ups due to the physician changes in walk-in clinics causes orphan patients not to seek early intervention due to the waiting periods in walk-in clinics.

All of the physicians and nurse practitioners in walk-in clinics need to be commended, yet my question remains: Why are pharmacists being restricted from full practice when it could be a win-win situation for all ?

Health Minister Dix, we as orphan patients require a reply from you on this matter.

Wendy Campbell Saanich