I review my experience during last week’s unplanned trip to the Emergency Room because of an impacted kidney stone. Lying on the ER concrete floor vomiting into a garbage pail was not ideal.

The care received was top-notch. The staff friendly and at their A-game level. The system itself, however, is far from a passing grade. It is akin to having the best actors at the acme of their craft but giving them a terrible script and an old theatre stage that looks its age. There is only so much they can do when the supports systems do not provide them the opportunity to do their work.

Other countries have systems that provide better access and care but we are so hamstrung by the Canada Health Act that innovative proposals have no chance of being enacted.

Your Calls and Comments:

• A woman with diabetes has been experiencing forefoot pain with the latest heatwave. She would like to know what may be the cause.
• A woman with an irritated eye with cloudy vision after medicated drops were used would like to know how to proceed.
• A man who had Bells’ Palsy went to the ER when it was not busy and had rapid access to services, exactly as it should be. However this clearly illustrates system cannot handle the ER overload/overcrowding.