We aren’t as smart as we used to be
The country and provinces have been disrupted by demonstrations pitting families, individuals and groups against each other with their differing views on right and wrong.
Varying viewpoints have assigned blame to the long-standing pandemic, political parties or other causes. May I suggest that this chaotic situation may be due to the rapid development of artificial intelligence.
Has this growth of the number of individuals living mainly in the internet and online through their cellphones and gaming, etc., produced too many “no-brainers” incapable of rational thought?
William Davis
Victoria
Using farm equipment, big rigs as weapons
Ottawa has been invaded by a foreign-funded occupation force, and the best that the Trudeau government can come up with, 10 days into the occupation, is having discussions with the two other levels of government about their “options.”
What are they thinking? Hopefully they would behave differently if the occupying force were equipped with tanks and rifles instead of big rigs and tractors.
Meanwhile, this insurgency has spread from Ottawa to Windsor at the Ambassador Bridge, and the Coutts border crossing in southern Alberta, and is having a crippling effect on our economy, exacerbating already bad supply-chain issues.
In all cases big rigs and farm equipment are being used unlawfully as weapons, in an effort to force governments to take actions contrary to the will of the majority of 91原创s.
I would like to see the big rigs confiscated and sold off at auction to cover the costs of policing, repair of property damages, and compensation to businesses for lost revenue.
It’s not called freedom when individual rights take priority over the common good. It’s called anarchy.
John Cook
Victoria
A patient’s perspective on health care today
I am a three-time cancer patient who has found myself without a family doctor. Fortunately I am a patient of the B.C. Cancer Clinic. The level of care provided by the clinic staff is world class.
I had been without a family doctor for a period of time, then suddenly I was contacted by one of the Eagle Creek physicians. After four months of care I learned, through the media, that this doctor and one other were leaving the practice.
On occasion I require tests, prescriptions etc. that are outside of the cancer clinic care and is part of mainstream medicine. For such, I rely on a family doctor.
There has been a lot made by the government that their secret to ending the doctor shortage crisis, improving care, is the establishment of the “urgent and primary care” model. It appears that such has not come to fruition as the clinics are also unable to recruit doctors, so the planned services cannot be effectively delivered.
As an example, most days by 10 a.m., the West Shore urgent and primary care facility is at capacity. People that queue up at 6:30 a.m. are not guaranteed to see a physician.
Most of the new UPCs are not adequately staffed; therefore, limiting the available service. There has been millions of dollars expended on the construction of the UPC facilities with the outcome being irrelevant.
Maybe those funds should be put towards doctors’ primary concerns related to fees, overhead costs, recruitment and technology improvement. At this point losing a family doctor puts excessive strain on the remaining health-care facilities such as medical clinics and emergency departments.
As I have a compromised immune system following treatment and radiation, I would prefer not to expose myself to the viral environment; therefore, the services of a family physician are important.
In addition, I can’t see how telemedicine will adequately serve the community. Such may be fine for prescription renewals but does not allow for a proper assessment of a patient, e.g. blood pressure, sounding of chest, etc.
Brian A. Belcher
Colwood
Simple appointment a hint of the crisis
The other day, I got to live the health-care crisis in an epic runaround to get treated for a bladder infection.
Beginning at 8:30 a.m., I contacted my regular walk-in clinic, Cook Street Village Medical, which I attend because I have been unable to find a family doctor since moving here five years ago.
The clinic replied that they were not making appointments because they are fully booked until the beginning of March.
I phoned the next closest clinic, James Bay Medical, which said that they had shuttered their walk-in clinic for good.
I was turned down by three more walk-in clinics, one of which was a new urgent and primary care centre. Each reported that their appointments were all booked for today.
A fourth said that they could maybe see me a week from today. My seventh call, to Quadra Village Medical, was answered in the affirmative — a doctor would call me this evening.
Thankfully, my malady is a minor one. I am terrified of some day receiving a serious diagnosis with no continuity of care to count on.
I am infuriated by the government’s foot-dragging on this issue, despite having the crisis and its solutions clearly laid out as much as 20 years ago in Roy Romanow’s report on the future of health care in Canada.
My struggle to access a simple primary care appointment makes me feel that I am living in a third world country.
Janet Pelley
Victoria
Protest for fair pay for our doctors
I am appalled by the total lack of adequate compensation for our doctors. The recent letter by a physician clearly outlines that doctors’ fees have in no way kept pace with inflation that has risen by almost 200 per cent since 1984, while doctors’ fees have risen by only about 50 per cent.
And today’s doctors’ fees in Alberta and Saskatchewan are about 33 per cent higher that in B.C.
Recent provincial governments have shown a disgraceful disregard for our health care by allowing this to happen.
If people are wanting a reason for protesting, this would be a very well-received cause as it is affecting the health of so many in our population. In fact, the loss of our doctors could be really life-threatening for our seniors and the health-compromised.
Bruce Morrison
Colwood
Let’s celebrate all the health care workers
Putting health care workers at risk with threats of violence and harassment as a response to this virus continuing is a complete reversal from how the public responded a year ago. Frustration has set in and responding this way does no one any good in seeing this virus to its end.
Perhaps we need to reflect back to the beginning when the COVID-19 pandemic started just to keep things in perspective and do what we did then. That is the drawing of hearts and the banging of pots and pans to yet again thank those who serve us for their steadfast commitment to their work in caring for us! Hearts and flowers in time for Valentine’s Day. Sounds good!
The sounds of the banging of pots and pans in celebration would be music to my ears to counter the constant noisy trucker’s horns that only represents a darker vision of their threat to put an end to restrictions or else.
They need to realize that their own lives are being protected by those who are vaccinated and should thank their lucky stars to have survived these past two years while tempting fate.
So let’s yet again show our appreciation by drowning out those who are ungratefully blowing their horns and causing a ruckus with such grievous results of bringing everything to a halt that closes down the economy.
E.C. Jewsbury
Saanich
With your help, we can end the pandemic
Not one 91原创 is enjoying the COVID experience, but 90 per cent of us have the fortitude, the sense of responsibility and community, and the respect for science and our medical professionals to do the smart thing and get vaccinated.
The slavish followers of the Trump playbook inhabiting the streets of Ottawa and threatening to return to Victoria are whiners, nothing more.
They’re “fighting” (in their warm trucks) for nothing but the right to be bullies. They should go home and do their part to end the pandemic instead of making a bad situation worse.
Jeff George
Parksville
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