ER wait times debated in House Study promised lst year only started last month

"Liberal Leader Yvonne Jones wanted to know why a study into overcrowded emergency rooms (ERs) in St. John’s, promised last spring, has taken almost a year to begin.Health Minister Ross Wiseman said the study is complex.

“We’re not assessing production of hamburgers at McDonald’s, we’re talking about acute-care services,” Wiseman replied before confirming the study began in early April."

I can recall more than fifty times in the past 16 years where the issue of over crowded ER Beds either meant you went home very ill, or you waited it out in a corridor until a bed became available up stairs, which took up to three or four days some times.

The odd thing however, if you asked about the situation you were in at the time, you'd be promptly told! This almost never happens.

Wiseman said "when people show up at ERs they are assessed and taken care of depending on the seriousness of their problems and are given a rank from one to five."

Well Wiseman, is this always best policy? Who does the ranking? Local patients have come to realize that complaining of chest pain will get you prompt attention! Second to that, the triage should be at least be serviced by a resident.

I remember, 2002, a friend of mine was using a Wheel-Way bus.. an accident occurred, and he broke both arms, both legs and several ribs. After arriving at the hospital, he waited four hours to get checked in. He was admitted, but after two days in emerge, no bed in sight, he was sent home! Can you imagine the indignity, the pain and stress this caused this person?

“We raised (this issue) in the House over a year ago,” said Jones. “They’ve only now commissioned a consultant to do (a review). The money sat in a government bank account for a year.”

A consultant to do what? "God Damn Them All" Ross my son, stop blowing health care dollars on bullshit! Do you really need to take another year to do a review, another year to wait for a report and five years to implement it before you take action? Despite the contrary on what I personally believe, you can't possibly be that ignorant or stupid! Can you?

The resolve seems somewhat formulated to me! Look at the past year, all ER departments across the province, build your formula on ER capability versus over flow percentage per hospital. Adjust the bed and staff capacity accordingly.

We understand to that many times ER's are being used by walk-ins that could and should have visited family doctors with flu's, common colds, stomach flu, strains and sprains.

Would it not be productive and cost effective to allow private practice physicians to use current clinic areas of hospitals to offer in hospital service to patients visiting ER rooms that do not need them. If I enter an ER with a sore throat, I would be automatically sent to family practice.

"NDP Leader Lorraine Michael said the government seems to be turning a blind eye to real problems in hospitals. “I’m sick and tired of this government refusing to acknowledge that we have major problems in our health-care system,” she said. She also renewed her long-standing call for a full review of the province’s health-care system."

"Wiseman told Michael in the House that he said no to that review seven or eight months ago and would still say no seven or eight months from now."

Isn't that a fascist sort of approach? our democracy is shot to hell! Certainly, Ross would deny any review that would prove what we already know! Health Care is broke, and Ross is wrong!

Brudder