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Eliminating barriers to trade and barriers to healthcare
I sent the following letter to Premier Houston this morning:
Hon Tim Houston
Premier of Province of Nova Scotia
Halifax
Dear Premier Tim Houston
I applaud your efforts to remove interprovincial trade barriers across Canada. This is a long overdue action and certainly will result in positive economic outcomes.
Now I propose that you begin the process to remove barriers to health care between the provinces.
Many Nova Scotians suffer painful limbs and joints for years when treatment is available in other provinces.
Our story.
For years my wife Rosemary suffered with a deteriorated hip. The specialists were adamant that the hip needed to be replaced. It got so bad that she was in the excruciating pain morning, noon and night. It hurt no matter what position she was in. She could only walk by hanging on to a wall, or me.
She is a person who never complains, but I could see the pain in her face 24 hours a day.
We were told that it would be at least 1. 5 to 2 years before she could get an appointment “. to get an appointment for the operation.
I just didn’t think we could survive that long.
On the Internet I found a place in Toronto called Clear Point Clinic in Toronto which offered hip replacement surgery. I checked the references for the clinic and the doctor. Both came back highly rated. There are several other such clinics.
We booked an appointment at Clear Point and had the operation scheduled in two weeks.
On arrival we found that the clinic was up to hospital standards in every way. The operation went very smoothly.
When she woke up from the operation the pain was gone for the first time in years. Her smile was back, and we were grateful for the surgery. She was taking steps the same afternoon as the operation. We came home with no problems. There were several follow-up calls from the clinic, but Rosemary had no issues.
The total cost of the operation including transportation, accommodations, and the surgery, after a tax refund was about $16, 000. This is about the same price as a used 10 year old Ford pickup truck. Eliminating Rosie’s pain was worth more than a 10 year used old Ford pickup truck. We are fortunate enough to be able to pay the bill.
I don’t know how much the Province of Nova Scotia pays to have hip replacement in a Nova Scotia Hospital, but my guess is that it would be at least this much.
Meanwhile my wife was out of pain and able to enjoy life again.
Right now, we have two friends waiting for joint operations. They have both been waiting for a year and a half and one was just told it’ll be another 6 months at least. This is years of pain and suffering when relief is available.
I respectfully request that the Province of Nova Scotia consider making these out-of-province operations available under the Nova Scotia Health Plan… at least temporarily until things are caught up. It’s a matter of pain and suffering and quality of life.
I realize that this goes against all the rules and regulations and bureaucratic hurdles, but if the will is there to stop the pain and suffering of Nova Scotians, there must be a way to overcome the red tape.
Red tape and bureaucratic hurdles never stopped you before. Please examine how this might be done. What could be more important?
Thank you for considering this request.
Sincerely,
Bill Casey
Former MP Cumberland Colchester
BillCasey. com
Hon Tim Houston
Premier of Province of Nova Scotia
Halifax
Dear Premier Tim Houston
I applaud your efforts to remove interprovincial trade barriers across Canada. This is a long overdue action and certainly will result in positive economic outcomes.
Now I propose that you begin the process to remove barriers to health care between the provinces.
Many Nova Scotians suffer painful limbs and joints for years when treatment is available in other provinces.
Our story.
For years my wife Rosemary suffered with a deteriorated hip. The specialists were adamant that the hip needed to be replaced. It got so bad that she was in the excruciating pain morning, noon and night. It hurt no matter what position she was in. She could only walk by hanging on to a wall, or me.
She is a person who never complains, but I could see the pain in her face 24 hours a day.
We were told that it would be at least 1. 5 to 2 years before she could get an appointment “. to get an appointment for the operation.
I just didn’t think we could survive that long.
On the Internet I found a place in Toronto called Clear Point Clinic in Toronto which offered hip replacement surgery. I checked the references for the clinic and the doctor. Both came back highly rated. There are several other such clinics.
We booked an appointment at Clear Point and had the operation scheduled in two weeks.
On arrival we found that the clinic was up to hospital standards in every way. The operation went very smoothly.
When she woke up from the operation the pain was gone for the first time in years. Her smile was back, and we were grateful for the surgery. She was taking steps the same afternoon as the operation. We came home with no problems. There were several follow-up calls from the clinic, but Rosemary had no issues.
The total cost of the operation including transportation, accommodations, and the surgery, after a tax refund was about $16, 000. This is about the same price as a used 10 year old Ford pickup truck. Eliminating Rosie’s pain was worth more than a 10 year used old Ford pickup truck. We are fortunate enough to be able to pay the bill.
I don’t know how much the Province of Nova Scotia pays to have hip replacement in a Nova Scotia Hospital, but my guess is that it would be at least this much.
Meanwhile my wife was out of pain and able to enjoy life again.
Right now, we have two friends waiting for joint operations. They have both been waiting for a year and a half and one was just told it’ll be another 6 months at least. This is years of pain and suffering when relief is available.
I respectfully request that the Province of Nova Scotia consider making these out-of-province operations available under the Nova Scotia Health Plan… at least temporarily until things are caught up. It’s a matter of pain and suffering and quality of life.
I realize that this goes against all the rules and regulations and bureaucratic hurdles, but if the will is there to stop the pain and suffering of Nova Scotians, there must be a way to overcome the red tape.
Red tape and bureaucratic hurdles never stopped you before. Please examine how this might be done. What could be more important?
Thank you for considering this request.
Sincerely,
Bill Casey
Former MP Cumberland Colchester
BillCasey. com