LETTER: Find surgery solution right here in Manitoba

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/06/2023 (1080 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Once again, the Progressive Conservative government is offering a band-aid solution to one of the many problems with our health-care system. It was very refreshing reading Deveryn Ross’s column on May 20 speaking to the doctor shortage. His solution: “massively increase the number of Manitobans admitted to our medical school” with intention “to stay in Manitoba a key part.”

As it was so well pointed out, our situation has been a long time in the making. Or to put it another way, the demographers sure got it wrong! I don’t know why our government leaders — in fact, it should be all parties united in stating that we need “massive change” in all the components of our health-care system. This includes 911 operators, lab workers, doctors, nurses, paramedics etc. Even if we start now, it will be “years in the making,” but it needs to get started — “get the ball rolling!”

Instead, what we hear from our government, is that there are now more out-of-province surgeries planned. Right off the bat, there is no explanation of an attempt to increase surgeries here in Manitoba. Even to explain, if there was an attempt, why it didn’t work here.

Of great concern, in the expansion of out-of-province surgeries, is that one of the facilities chosen is the Cambie Surgical Center in Vancouver. The CEO of the Cambie Center is Dr. Brian Day, who has been, for years, promoting privatization of the public system. Now why would Heather Stefanson agree to choose that site?

What has been happening is that up until this latest “pre-election spending spree,” the Conservative government has been defunding and underfunding our health-care system, and this has been right across the board. Requests for expansion of “training programs” have been denied and, in a lot of situations, funds have been held back. And these are attempts to expand training programs in most of the health-care areas.

The privatization theme also applies to all the U.S. destinations as they are “private “establishments. One of the underlying themes of “private health care” is that if you have the money, you get the care.

Were you aware that for Heather’s out-of-province locations, the patient who is travelling for surgery must cover the costs of 1) getting there (transportation), 2) staying there (accommodations), and 3) eating there (meals). “They will be reimbursed by the government according to pre-defined limits.”

So, let me get this straight: you have to be well-off enough to pay for these costs yourself and then hopefully get paid back in full by the government!

In other words, if you have the money, you get the care. We all should be outraged! Basically, what our government is doing is chipping away at the public system and actively encouraging the using of more private systems.

The reality, in regards to privatization, is that according to a recent report from the Parkland Institute, “privatization means fewer surgeries and longer wait times.” The report concludes: “When health-care facilities are profit-motivated, they must find ways to reduce costs and return profits to investors. The primary strategy among for-profit-hospitals, ambulatory care facilities and long-term care homes in Canada and the U.S. is to maintain lower staffing levels and fewer highly skilled personnel per patient.”

What really is nasty is how the Conservative government is preying on the fears of Manitobans who will “do anything to get their surgery.” Why? Well, they have been told they will benefit from surgery. Why? Because their hip or knee is so damaged that it is causing pain and there’s a decrease in function.

OK, so why the desperation? Well, they have also been told they will have to wait six months to 24 months before their surgery can be done. This is cruel!

Why there hasn’t been a made-in-Manitoba solution for this horrible situation is mind-boggling. Even if the solution is just for this group of patients who are suffering so much, at this time. Outrageous!

SCOTT BLYTH

Brandon