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Critically ill patients rushed to U.S. for care

LISA PRIEST

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 1:40 AM EST 19/01/08

Ontario hospitals face severe shortage of intensive care beds ...Read the full article

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  1. Charles Martel from From Low Earth Orbit, Canada writes: Are they sending their gunshot victims to the states for medical care? LOL.
  2. Stand up for Social Justice The Canadian Way from Canada writes: Dalton it was so nice of you to give yourself a nice fat raise, yet you careless about the people in Ontario,
  3. Gary Thomson from Surrey, BC, Canada writes: Of course, it would be far better if Ontario, and the other provinces, had more intensive care beds. I can understand how a managed health care system under financial stress might occasionally not have enough capacity in all areas in all circumstances. However, we shouldn't be relying on the US 'over capacity' to bail us out as frequently as we do. But before the free market idealogues start foaming at the mouth, ask yourself, 'At what cost do the Americans have this excess capacity?' Our system is universal and, when necessary, we pay big bucks to give citizens, any citizens, the medical care in the US we temporarily can't supply here. The American system has overcapacity because they keep their prices high enough to pay for unused resources while simultaneously denying many of their citizens necessary health care. Sure, it would be nice not to have waiting lists, but not at the cost of leaving health care resources unused because some people can't afford it.
  4. Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: 'If we adopt Canadian-style healthcare system, then where will Canadians go for treatment?'

    Rudolph Guliani.
  5. S H from Windsor, Canada writes: About one month ago, a heart attack victim had to be rushed to Detroit. Customs pulled over the Ambulance for a random check on the US side. The person survived but everyone was up in arms and very upset at the Amercians for pulling over the ambulance. 'He could have died', people said.

    I find this story very sad. They should be mad at our gov't for not having the medical services to treat this person in Windsor, instead they get mad at the US customs? Hello, when you have to rely on another country for medical treatment, something is wrong here!!! The stupidty of some Canadians just amaze me!
  6. Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: SH in Windsor, you got that one right. The amount of venom spewed at US Customs in the comments section for stopping that ambulance was unreal. US Customs was just doing their job. The Canadian healthcare system failed to do its job, yet we blame US Customs.
  7. Dave G from Canada writes: What can you expect when you couple a protectionist Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons with a federal/provincial government that hires its incompetent friends and family to managerial positions?

    So long as you're bilingual it doesn't matter if you can't reason your way out of a paper bag and have no other particular skills, you will still get a government managerial job eventually.
  8. Let me tell You How It Is from United States writes: Can't wait for the blindly patriotic venom-spewing Canadians to defend their 'envy of the world healthcare system' and attack the Imperialist evil torturing Americans for saving Canadians from certain death from Strokes. Those Canadians from Vancouver were treated here at Virginia Madison Medical Center Seattle.
  9. Peter Sibold from Canada writes: What health care? 12 month waits for an MRI....similar waits for specialists....Come-on.......we pay some of the highest taxes in the world and have 3rd world health care.....25% of the residents of Ontario don't have access to a family doctor....and...the party in power gets re-elected!....Liberals get sick too...ask my dead mother-in-law....oh yes...she finally got her MRI 30 days before she died of bone cancer....and after a 2 year wait!....So....let's keep fooling ourselves that we have the best system in the world...we 'had' the best system about 20 years ago! Funny....we also had significantly lower taxes.....just maybe we spent our money with more accountabilility 20 years ago......I just have trouble believing that our hospital administrator in our small city is worth $275,000 plus benefits ...and...he also has three other chiefs below him..... We have duplicated the 'socialistic medical model of the UK' and refined it to a new level of ineffectiveness!...But...it looks good on paper...especially when our politicans justify our high taxes!
  10. ImaCANADIAN ! from Canada writes: According to the article, 'an additional $4.1 million' was provided 'to do 100 more neurosurgical cases' a year. That's how much Canadian taxpayer money is spent every 72 hours on the military operations in Afghanistan.

    The article tells us 'governments were warned of a shortage of neurosurgical services five years ago.' That just happens to be about a year after Canada's military first went to Afghanistan. So essentially, Canadian taxpayer money that should have gone to saving Canadian lives in Canada, went instead toward war and the loss of 77 healthy Canadian and countless Afghan lives in their country.

    Cutting the Afghanistan military operations short by just 5 days would provide funding to do 150 more neurological cases a year. Instead of addressing the many reports mentioned in this aritcle, Harper - spending who knows how much more taxpayer money on Manley & buddies for an entirely-predictable 'report' on Afghanistan - wants to extend the bleeding to 2011.

    Instead of saving lives by investing Canadian taxpayer money in Canada, in the timely maintenance of healthcare for Canadians and the timely maintenance of infrastructure for Canadians, our money gets directed toward a war that endangers Canadians.
  11. ImaCANADIAN ! from Canada writes: Peter Sibold mentioned the lack of MRI's and that his mother-in-law got her MRI scan 30 days before dying.

    Unfortunately money that should have gone toward buying and running MRI machines to save Canadian lives was instead directed by Harper toward his two year extension of war in Afghanistan and a veritable parade of war machines for Afghanistan ('Nyalas', 'LAV IIIs', 'Buffaloes', 'Cougars', 'Leopard IIs', upgraded 'Leopard IIs', 'Huskies', etc.)

    With the billion dollars spent just on tanks, as many as 500 to 1000 MRI machines and CT scanners could have been bought and used to save thousands of Canadian lives. Instead, Harper directed that tax money permanently out of the country toward tanks, to better blow away Afghan lives.
  12. Pamela Achurch from Peterborough, ON, Canada writes: I don't have a problem with using US resources to meet emergency needs of Canadians. The resources are there, underutilized, so it makes sense to access them. On the positive side, using them red flags deficiencies in our system. In this case neurosurgery has received public attention with the resulting pressure to respond. The major point is the care of the patient. Sadly some people fall through the cracks but overall, most Cdns receive adequate healthcare. This is not the case in the US. To our credit, problems are addressed. We don't just sit back and watch the stats rise on the number who have no medical care whatsoever. Our system will never be perfect...but I wouldn't trade it for private care.
  13. Emma Hawthorne from Canada writes: This is idiotic hospital management at its best. Admit the most well and send the most critical to the U.S. This border- rushing stratagy has been used on dopey provincial politicians as a gun-to-their-head fund-raising strategy several times before, such as when birthing mothers were sent to Montanna because a B.C. hospital supposedly didn't have enough neo-natal nurses. Logic would say do what you have to t hire some, even if it means offering to pay a $20,000 premium in rural areas, but no, hospital incompetents choose a two-million-dollar strategy of sending patients to the U.S. because the publicity will help them up their budgets. Policiticans should realize that unless they put their foot down and start taking over hospitals who cannot manage to deliver heathcare appropriately, the idiocy will continue and Canadians will be harmed, or worse. Note to hospitals. Patients are not pawns. If you want more intensive care beds, move more beds to the intensive care department. If it is too small, clear out the adjacent rooms and expand it. Lay off unneeded staff and hire intensive care staff. Use financial incentives if you have to. It's a no-brainer.
  14. Vern McPherson from writes: Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: SH in Windsor, you got that one right. The amount of venom spewed at US Customs in the comments section for stopping that ambulance was unreal. US Customs was just doing their job. The Canadian healthcare system failed to do its job, yet we blame US Customs.

    -----------------------------------------------------------

    Lnda Keen was just doing her job. So why are the COns blaming Linda Keen ?
  15. Wally Grisold from Toronto, Canada writes: If a shortage of Doctors and money is the big problem then take some of that cash the Ontario Government has sitting in the Ontario Lottery coffers collecting interest and spend it to hire all the doctors who are filling in as Cab Drivers and tele-marketers because some bozo in the Health Ministry says they are not qualified to practice here. Give them a chance to apply and check their credentials and their experience from the Medical School they graduated from. Heaven knows some of the the Medical Schools in Europe and Asia far excede what the standards are here in Canada. I am fortunate to have a Doctor I see regularly, albeit it is at a local clinic and being a senior it helps. Geez he even calls once a week to our seniors home to see the people that can't get out. So Mr. McGinty and Smitherman get your hands out of your pockets and get off the pot and do something about it before time runs out on some of the less fortunate than you who probably gets priority if you get a cut or a broken finger nail. This is a very serious problem. Don't wait for Stevie 'Wonder' in Ottawa to bail you out.
  16. jay bow from NY, United States writes: How come these stories weren't in Sicko? of course the US has better care because the opposite never happens....Americans never get rushed to Canada for help
  17. J J from Canada writes: I wouldn't think twice about going to the US if I or my family needed critical medical care like an MRI. Canadians really need to get by this 'the government needs to take care of ME' utopian view of health care.

    I refuse to die while standing in a line with relative healthy people, just because my ticket says I'm next. We need to move towards a more two tiered system, not like the US, but more like the European model.

    The Canadian view of health care doesn't exist here, and never will.
  18. Ben USMC from United States writes:

    Sadly, that is a picture of my house on the lead article on the G&M 'USA Now a Third World Country'

    As we speak, right behind the Canadian Ambulances, is the cable company truck to 'pull the plug' at our shack.

    So I am unable to comment.
  19. brian bishop from Brantford, Canada writes: Our publicly funded universal healthcare system should never fail Canadian citizens in this regards, never should their be a shortage of funding or lack of beds, this is the exact reason we adopted universal healthcare in the first place.

    This is the reason I'm now once again paying a health tax in Ontario, where are the several billion dollars per year of health tax dollars going if not to ensure all Ontarians receive the healthcare at home in Canada! Instead it's being wasted on out of country medical care which costs far more of our tax dollars.

    ImaCANADIAN - Give it a rest, it's not the Feds that are squandering our healthcare dollars it's the Provinces!

    -Ask yourself why the Ontario government is spending 100's of millions to put up stupid 100 foot light posts at every 400 series highway onramp/offramp.
    -Ask yourself why the Ontario government is sinking billions in Smart Meters.
    -Ask yourself why the Ontario government is planning to spend 80 or 90 billion on nuclear reactors.

    If you think it's because we need any of these things, think again!

    None of these things are needed or more important than the healthcare for the citizens of Ontario, yet the Ontario government is spending our tax dollars on them instead of ensuring we receive our healthcare at home in Canada in a timely fashion.

    The only time a Canadian should have to leave Canada for medical treatment is when the treatment isn't available in Canada, or if they choose to do so of their own free will!
  20. GRAEME BLAIR from Canada writes: Ive worked in healthcare for 25 years and I can tell you that in the last 5 or so the number of questionable managerial positions have risen dramatically. I've been told that they're ministry mandated positions but I wonder. With all of these directors and business managers, yes, business managers in hospitals, you still can't get fundamental questions answered. The entire system is bogged down in red tape and bureaucracy. Millions and millions of $ being poured out to blackberry wielding, out of sight managers who don't have any idea what's going on in their deparments. Sad really, front line workers, who actually run things, have been expressing bed shortage concerns for years, but all the government and administrators are concerned with is optics. I could go on well past the character limit of this comment page but after so many years there's little fight left in me.
  21. CD W from Canada writes: Also be aware that after neuro patients, pregnancy and cardiac are almost tied for 2nd place for transfers to the US. Very nice folks in Rochester and Buffalo work in the hospitals.

    I have had to go through US customs and they were fabulous. Returning, the Canadian Border Agency, just amazing. This system is not perfect, it just gives near perfect results. Most folks do very well being treated in New York state.

    So for the the fear factor folks, just because there is private medical insurance across the border does not stop patient care. I would contend that OHIP is the best private insurance in New York state when someone cannot get care in Ontario.
  22. Mia Zen from Canada writes: This week, how many planes were bought for the army ?
  23. A PM from Canada writes: Healthcare is still good in Canada, yes it needs some work, Mike Harris and the conservatives ruined it in Ontario, along with our schools. When t Eaves and Jim Flaherty team were tossed out of office they left a $5 billion deficit (they had lied and said the books were balanced, True Conservatives they were), where did all the money go, they fired nurses, helped persuade the doctors to move south (incidentaly some Docs have moved back and Harris/Eaves had to rehire the nurses) but, corporate Ontario did not suffer they were given tax breaks at the cost of healthcare. Flaherty/ Harper still are doing this in the totalitarin state they are building. American healthcare is good if you have money, even then horror stories of people getting sick and losing everything abound. No Thanks.
  24. J Law from Canada writes: Mia Zen from Canada writes: This week, how many planes were bought for the army ?

    You have become one-dimentional in your thinking. A country is much more than just a hospital. Sometimes it is defence.

    Everybody seems to have the problem down pat, but who has the solution?

    I would hazard that one guess would be to bring in people trained as managers instead of having doctors managing the system. I also believe this would be a start of fixing our educational system also. Bring in trained managers istead of teachers in manager's jobs. But the probelems are goin to have to take time and money to solve.
  25. bob saunders from Belleville Ontario, Canada writes: ImaCANADIAN ! from Canada - Health Care wasn't any better before the war that Chretien and his Liberals got us into, so give it a rest. Just think of the medical equipment that could have been bought with all that gun registry money and the Jane Stewart Boondoggle billion...etc. The fact is the blame can be spread around. Less transfer money from the Feds-which is better now regardless of what lies McGuinty spreads, all the wasted money on administration...etc. I don't have the answer but it shouldn't be that hard to look at what works well in other countries and what doesn't and blend a system that will work well in Canada. I've had 4 operations over the past 20 years, one knee, 3 shoulder, and am now going for carpal tunnel and I have no complaints about the service once you are in the operating room or hospital, but it the waiting time that will kill you.
  26. George Bishop from Fergus,Ontario, Canada writes: This week the new Government in Ottawa bought new planes for the Canadian Forces, this money should have gone to Health Care, its about time governments in Canada should be caring for the People and not special groups like the Armed Forces, this Country should adopt a system like the Irish Republic and put money wher it belongs, develop a great system for all the people here in Canada and not be a knob to the USA war like movements!
  27. Little Dickie from Beautiful Downtown Port Dover, Canada writes: For all those that moan and groan about the Canadian health system, and think the US system is just wonderful ...you must be dreaming in technicolour. I know it's not perfect...but what is.

    First their are at least 40 million Americans that do not have any basic form of health care

    Second, Health insurance companies in the US make a lot of money, and most of that is made by denying medical services to their clients

    Third, Doctors in the US have to contact the insurance companies to see if they can treat the patients if it is beyond the normal health maintenance.

    Sure things are great in the US, if you have medical coverage, even people over 65 down here on Social Security with Medicare, are limited, and extra insurance is probably close to four, or five thousand dollars per year for coverage for a retired couple ...if they can get it, over and above basic Medicare .....

    So folks...take off your rose coloured glasses when looking south. At least our governments will send you somewhere outside the country if need be. I am sure the insurance companies in the US would not send a patient outside the US if needed ....cheaper to them die ...then no more liability
  28. P Jones from NB, Canada writes: Take-a-number-healthcare ... it's Canadian and it's free.
  29. D E from Canada writes: Just think how much benefit $2B or more wasted on the gun registry fiasco could have benefited the healthcare system. Forget the party, politicians in general are so stupid they don't understand that criminals don't register guns - duh !
    There is something wrong with our political system that leads to wrong fiscal decisions like that when we have a minimal medical system needing more doctors, nurses, beds and equipment. Its only going to get much worse because of an aging population.
  30. Digital Taco from Canada writes: Neurosurgery is a grueling speciality in Canada. Hours are long, outcomes are usually poor regardless of surgery (depressing), and pay is modest in comparison to some other surgical specialties. Also, you're forced to work in a teaching hospital, and all the academic/research baggage you have to carry.

    Ophthalmology (the eye guys) on the other is a much coveted surgical specialty. Hours are dandy, outcomes are usually great (not-depressing), and the pay is phenomenal (puts neurosurgery to shame). No patients ever die on you. You can work in a teaching hospital, or work in the community (aka. no academic/research baggage).

    You wonder why there is a neurosurgeon shortage eh? That's the true bottleneck. It takes 10-15 years to train a neurosurgeon. Nurses take aout 4-5 years to train, could build a new ICU wing/beds in months. So, even if the government were to toss trillions to address this neurosurgeon issue, we'll be waiting at least a decade to see any results.
  31. Steve *** from United States writes: as a Canadian living in US, i can easily say the best solution is to find a middle ground between US and Canadian Health system. but that still doesnt excuse the fact that our ill is sent to US. cause cost wise they could open a facility and admit those 154 or something they sent to US and feed them too. US medical bill can be astronomical...
  32. Steve *** from United States writes: oh, i also forgot. people who study Neurosurgery are people with talents and good enough intelligence to go through those many years of study. so we need to find a better way to get those foreign trained Neurosurgeons back in their profession.
  33. Dan Green from Palm Beach Gardens Florida, United States writes: Canadians should be proud of their universal health care. As I understand it, the foundation is just what it implies, Universal Health care for all. We Americans want the same. After that wish however, the parade comes to a grinding halt. We fear anything run by the government, with little say by the people, would equate to a reduction in quality. We have studied many models , yours, the Germans, the Brits, etc. Not yet convinced any provide the quality of ours. Problem we have is, 40 million have no coverage, and it is expensive to maintain the quality. Those with no coverage usually wait for a major problem and then are taken care of by law in an emergency room enviroment, and we all know what that is like, a place to be avoided.
  34. Nassar Ben Houdja from Canada writes: An affliction registry must be implemented immediately to track disease. Anyone caught with an unregistered disease should be jailed.
  35. Sue W from Canada writes: Those awful Americans. How dare they allow us to use their crappy healthcare system.
  36. Paul S from Niagara Region, Canada writes: ImaCANADIAN ! from Canada,

    The Feds aren't responsible for health care -- the provinces are. And if you read the article you should know that this is mainly an Ontario problem. So if you want to be mad at a politician, maybe you should be mad at Dalton McGuinty for giving himself a big raise instead of addressing the health care issues.
  37. Steve *** from United States writes: Sue W, have you seen a US hospital bill? if no, i hope you never see it. over billing is a tool to cover the costs of hospital and OHIP picks those bills up.
  38. M F from Canada writes: It should be made clear that doctors do not manage the health care system. This is a myth. If doctors did manage the health care system, there would have been no cuts to medical school enrollment back in 1993 (created by the NDP in Ontario). THis was a government decision to budget for our 'universal, accessible and comprehensive' system.

    The problem with our health care system is that there is too little input from front line providers and when input is provided, it is discounted as being slanted towards their own agendas. This is a very odd approach since the reason doctors in Canada go into medicine in the first place is to practice medicine---helping people and advocating for them.

    Too often however, individuals and groups who have little direct knowledge of the problems in our system are paid to provide answers and recommendations to government.

    This results in government being told what it wants to hear.....the system is sustainable if only we do x, y, z.

    Well, it is not sustainable...and Canada is going to be short by about 5,500-10,000 physicians in the next few years says Health Canada

    So keep on blaming doctors if you want and see how much that helps.
  39. Michael Powers from Canada writes: Dalton implementd a pretty large Healthcare tax on Ontario residents. Good to see that he's using the money to transport critically ill patients to somewhere that they can get first class care.

    We used to have a pretty good system until the politicans got involved with it. Now everyone except politicans and rich have to stand in line.
  40. Pete H from Canada writes: A PM from Canada -And I bet you're one of the ones who tells Harper to stop blaming the Liberals for all our national problems. If you actually believe all that pap you posted, how long are you giving McGuinty to fix all the eveil deeds of Mike Harris. You can hide behind the partisan rhetoric all day long if you want, but our health care system is broken, and has been under the leadership of every political party. The Canadian Universal Health care model is crumbling under it's own weight and the best we can do is blame our political foes and reject every attempt to revist our model by droping the anti American card. Pathetic.
  41. EJ Ravensbud from Canada writes: Are some of you people insane. You must all know by now that healthcare is a Provincial responsibility. Why are you blaming Harper and the Federal Government? Most of you from Ontario just reelected McGuinty and his gang for another four years. He has been collecting a health care levy for the last four years to provide us with a promised first class system. This levy now amounts to many billions. Is this money going to health care or is much of it being funneled to other pet causes? Put the blame where it belongs, you folks just reelected the problem.
  42. R. M. from Regina, Canada writes: Pamela Achurch from Ont who wrote ' I don't have a problem with using US resources to meet emergency needs of Canadians.'

    I am sure you have no problem using U.S. services as long as it is not you and your family who face the delay in treatment and anxiety of having to be transported out of country (for who knows how long and with what result) and the related expenses family will have to incur (hotels/meals/transportation) etc. and how many could not afford it or at the very least have only one family member to accompany the person.

    Repeat after me everyone...medicare is not broken, medicare is not broken, medicare is not broken.
  43. Prairie Boy from Canada writes: Neither Canada nor the US produce enough MD.'s for their respective countries. Both countries compete to hire foreign doctors but the US usually wins. Part is the money and part is the nanny state. Both countries have comparable licencing structures but in the US one has to make the hospital board happy. Here you have to make hundreds of civil servants happy.

    It is not just the money going into the system, it is also the way the money is spent. I feel we have an adequatly funded system and we have to spend it more wisely. If 40% of GDP doesn't buy you ' free' healthcare....why? Not the usual we need more ,more, more but why?
  44. Old blue from Canada writes: It's funny how the Democrats and their leader Michael Moore hold Canada up as an example of how great socialized medicine can be.

    Unfortunately, there are 1 million Ontarians without a family doctor and we have a bad habit of sending our sickest patients to the U.S. for medical care. In Alberta, they send their pregnant women from Calgary to little town Montana because of the exceptional care they'd receive at a country hospital. Also in Ontario, MPP Smitherman huffs and puffs whenever anyone even thinks about offering any form of private health care.

    One thing is for certain is that with the money we're currently paying we should have the best health care system in the world and throwing even more cash at it isn't the answer. The current system is NOT sustainable.

    I've never had any difficulty finding a dentist ........I wonder what the difference is between family medicine and dentistry.
  45. Basil Fawlty from Manchester, NH, United States writes: 'Little Dickie from Beautiful Downtown Port Dover, Canada writes:

    So folks...take off your rose coloured glasses when looking south. At least our governments will send you somewhere outside the country if need be. I am sure the insurance companies in the US would not send a patient outside the US if needed ....cheaper to them die ...then no more liability '


    Funny you mention that...a hospital in Ontarion euthenized my mother at the end of her life, because they needed the bed.
  46. Pete H from Canada writes: Little Dickie from Beautiful Downtown Port Dover, Canada writes: For all those that moan and groan about the Canadian health system, and think the US system is just wonderful ...you must be dreaming in technicolour. I know it's not perfect...but what is.
    I don't know about you, but the last time I looked at a map there were more than two countries on it. What is with this American inferiorty complex that so many Canadains share? Our Health care system is superior because it's not American? ' I know it's not perfect...but what is' perhaps says it all for the Canadians who are willing to define the best as anything that's 'not American.'
  47. Basil Fawlty from Manchester, NH, United States writes: 'Dan Green from Palm Beach Gardens Florida, United States writes: Canadians should be proud of their universal health care. As I understand it, the foundation is just what it implies, Universal Health care for all. We Americans want the same. '


    Speak for yourself, pal.
    You must be Demo.
  48. Counterspinner tells the truth from Canada writes: So, I guess it is clear now that the US health care system is better than Canada's. Once again, capitalism triumphs over communism.
  49. Bob K from United States writes: Gary Thomson from Surrey, BC, Canada writes:

    Sure, it would be nice not to have waiting lists, but not at the cost of leaving health care resources unused because some people can't afford it.

    Gary I hope you are the one that takes the fall for this rationed care.
  50. Wayne SamIam from calgary, Canada writes: How dare we send patients to the evil US empire. Our health care system is the best in the world, all the the libs tell us so. The solution is simple, do dare look at any alternative health care systems including that may contain a user pay component etc., all we need to do is spend more money on our existing system and everything will be fine, all the libs tell us so. How much money? Well no one knows but if we just keep spending we're sure the fix will come a some time!
  51. Mr Potter from San Francisco, United States writes: It must be terrifying to live in Canada and develop a major illness. I can't imagine the distress and humiliation of having to be transported to a foreign country to get access to basic emergency care. I have also heard from some of my Canadian doctor friends living in the Bay Area that millions of Canadians can't even find a family doctor to manage things as simple as high blood pressure or asthma. How did it go so wrong up there? What else can we do to help? Maybe we could offer some expert consultation on medical resource management.

    By the way, isn't this supposed to be an economic golden age for Canada? How bad is it going to get when the wheels come off your petro-economy? I noticed that the Toronto Stock Exchange has collapsed-should we expect more Canadian patients as your economy stagnates?
  52. Duffman from Beamerville from Woodbridge, Canada writes: What are you doing with my Heath Care Premium, Tax whatever???
    I know, I know that McGoofy lying liberal will just blame Harper.
    He stole billions from Ontarians, yet the G&M does mention it. Harper j walks and it's front page!
  53. Bill Harrison from Canada writes: Didn't take that long for the ardent Liberals to begin spewing their venom on Harper and Harris for the problems mentioned in the article. Yet McGuinty is in the fifth year of his mandate. The question is what has he and his government done to improve the situation. Unless I don't understand health funding in this country, my recollection is health is a provincial issue with financial help from the feds.
  54. Wayne SamIam from calgary, Canada writes: Mr Potter, you are correct. We have been brain-washed by years of Liberal idealogs telling how wonderful our health care system is and how it is the envy of the world. Those without a critical mind have fallen for this crap and now look where the Canadian Health Care system is. We have millions of people who cannot find a family doctor, patients waiting months for critical tests and procedures that they need immediately and many dying during the waiting period. My mother-in-law passed from cancer while waiting for diagnostic tests.

    It is so sad in that we are told on one hand how wonderful our system is and on the other hand we have to face the realities of the Canadian socialist system. Many in Canada are asking for options that may include at private component however debate on this subject is continually stifled. It is time Canada looks at options and don't be so pig headed as to assume we have the best system. There are other ways of doing things, don't be afraid of new ideas, suggestions and debate. Throwing money at the problem has not worked in the past and obviously will not work in the futrure.
  55. Paul G from Toronto, Canada writes: Funny how this wasn't revealed before the provincial election last year... when the hot topic was faith-based schools???

    Too bad there wasn't a viable alternative to McGuinty. I wonder what John Tory talks about now?

    ...
  56. jim in London from London, Canada writes: Peter Sibold from small town is right the problem is several layers of executives at little hospitals with CEOs making up to three quarters of a million dollars -whats to run -here is the budget don't kill anybody!Put all hospitals under one central executive and let the doctors run the hospitals without interference and money will reach the patients directly through care!
  57. Paul G from Toronto, Canada writes: Just getting out for a walk every day makes a big difference in your health.

    I still see a lot of people who smoke and eat the crap at McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken. I watched that show on NBC called 'Super Size Me' a while ago, the journalist's health declined significantly by just eating at Rotin Ronnie's for 30 days. In two weeks there was already a huge difference...

    With a failing health care system around us people have to start taking some responsibility.

    ..
  58. Randal Oulton from Canada writes: >> A PM from Canada writes: Healthcare is still good in Canada, yes it needs some work, Mike Harris and the conservatives ruined it in Ontario, along with our schools

    actually, i think they did two things: increasing funding for both to new record levels, and said no a few times to Big Labour calling all the shots for both. Because they dared say 'no' to Big Labour, the spin 'ruined' now gets applied by people like you.

    >> ImaCANADIAN ! from Canada writes: our money gets directed toward a war that endangers Canadians.

    Actually, I think your new health tax in Ontario got directed to a lot of pay rises.
  59. Steve Prime from Toronto, Canada writes: We definitely need more beds to take care of our own. Interestingly, I say this in today's NYTimes paper:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/19/opinion/19sat3.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin

    And then this from a couple of days ago:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/opinion/15tue3.html?ref=opinion

    Looks like we are not the only ones. The US has its own shortage problems. Still it doesn't excuse our problem
  60. Little Dickie from Beautiful Downtown Port Dover, Canada writes: Basil Fawlty from Manchester, NH, United States writes: 'Little Dickie from Beautiful Downtown Port Dover, Canada writes: 'So folks...take off your rose coloured glasses when looking south. At least our governments will send you somewhere outside the country if need be. I am sure the insurance companies in the US would not send a patient outside the US if needed ....cheaper to them die ...then no more liability ' 'Funny you mention that...a hospital in Ontarion euthenized my mother at the end of her life, because they needed the bed.' Basil, that's a pretty serious statement you use there 'euthenized my mother at the end of her life, because they needed the bed'. That's crime in Canada ..did you go to the police to lay a charge??? I can say in Canada, they do use morphine to ease pain and suffering ... and they do increase the amount in the final minuets of life of a dying person to relax their last moments of life. If that is the case would you rather have your mother not have any pain medication (morphine), and suffer in her last moments... do you want see your mother moan, move about, throat sounds in her final moments ...or do you and family want to see her just peacefully leave you. The moments of death is irreversible. They don't do that because they need a bed. I am sorry you feel that way.
  61. jay bow from NY, United States writes: when do american citizens ever get rushed to Canada for care? how many American doctors move to Canada for work..vs the many that go to America for work?
    Access to wait lines is not access to healthcare.
    there needs to be a blended system but the Canadian insecurity complex hinders advancement.
  62. D E from Canada writes: In Ontario it seems to me our health care system is run so as to just satisfy the masses but it is falling well short of that goal. On my recent trip to emergency they estimated at least a 4 hr wait as there were at least 50 others before me. Thats not good enough ! In our city for whatever reasons at least 2 doctors committed suicide in the last year. Besides their personal problems I think their lives were made even more unbearable by stressful work conditions. Now we have a greater shortage of doctors. someone said if you keep telling the masses we have the best system they will believe it - but don't believe just question it because its not true. Most politicians get better treatment than us. They are either expedited or can afford to go to the states. If I was a politician and someone shoved $300K cash into my pockets to promote a pasta company or whatever I could afford to go to the states for treatment.
  63. John Doe from ottawa, Canada writes: Keep voting Liberal.
    Keep supporting NON profit, Government knows best Medicare.

    Whatever you do, don't follow 'winning' Medicare models in Europe
  64. M F from Canada writes: I notice that the CNA suggests all will be well in a few years. I find this prediction irresponsible.

    As our population ages and as new technologies and scientific advances including genomics and meds that can make cancer a chronic disease continue to arrive on scene, more people will live longer needing more care and long term beds not to mention all the acute care that presently exists plus more.

    Prevention is very good at improving quality of life for individuals but it will have the effect of people living longer and needing more care simply because they live longer. This is fine and well but I hope government has a plan for this and how it will fund prevention costs alongside long term care requirements and acute medical need.

    Will certainly be very interesting and the rosy picture the CNA paints is much like a doctor telling an elderly patient that the oozing sore on their nose will take care of itself with a little soap and water. Fine until their nose disintegrates. An irresponsible approach overall.
  65. expat canuck from Greenwood, United States writes: As a Canadian who has worked in the US and Germany, it is my observation that the US has the worst health care system in the industrialized word, and Canada has the second worst. Both countries should imitate Europe. As for the Ontario economy, Mr Potter, it was doing fine until right-wing idealogues destroyed the manufacturing sector with 'free' trade. Leave no CEO behind!
  66. M F from Canada writes: CNA is the Canadian Nurses Association
  67. Nancy Wilson from N.Ontario, Canada writes: Many here complain about the Feds spending money on the military.
    But the fact is,if we're going to have a military at all,then they need to be equipped to do their jobs.
    Underfunding the military was an on going Liberal practice for many yrs.
    And I'd like to know how McGuinty is spending all the extra health care money he's taking from Ontario taxpayers.[That he promised NOT to].
  68. Pete H from Canada writes: The Ontario government by law must provide the public with salary disclosue of all public servants or employees of company's working for the Ontario Government making more than $ 100 k per year. Check this link for the list of only those in health care. I should warn you though, the list is long and will probably ruin your day. These are the individuals who provide us with health care management, and for whom the Ontario government raised our Health Care premiums for.
    http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/publications/salarydisclosure/2007/hospit07.html
  69. Yvonne Wackernagel from Woodville, Canada writes: I have been told and verily believe that the MISMANAGEMENT OF THE HOSPITALS is the reason. Check out the HUGE SALARIES OF THE ADMINISTRATORS, who apparently all belong to a private club for security purposes, and you might find why we do not have enough specialists and specialist nurses; RESIDENTS ARE LIMITED, as told to me in writing by Mr. Waldman, the Chief Corner in Ontario. Then, how can you expect things to get better for patients needing specialist hospital care? Look at the elaborate buildings, with the wasted space being taxed by 'book value' assessments for both municipal and business taxes. Look at the people pushing mops at $20 an hour and then look at the qualified -quite probably university trained -nurses fiddling with bedpans, making beds, giving baths, etc. LET US CLEAN UP THE MISMANAGEMENT OF OUR HOSPITALS.
  70. J Lufty from Canada writes: Mia Zen from Canada says 'This week, how many planes were bought for the army ?'

    Far fewer than they need. How about...'This week how many hundreds of millions of dollars were spent on bilingualism, multiculturalism, Human Rights Kangaroo Courts, Human Rights Museums, etc., etc?' Get the picture?
  71. J Lufty from Canada writes: Yvonne Wackernagel says 'LET US CLEAN UP THE MISMANAGEMENT OF OUR HOSPITALS.'

    Agreed. Let's dump the public sector unions and privatize most of the system. Let's drive for efficiencies....that is something the public system can and will never do. Public system bureaucracies protect themselves first and foremost.
  72. Rain Couver from Canada writes: Time to get in a team to clean up the system. The UK's system was languishing, but very decisive and painful changes has made it one of the best in the last 5 years. Time to reevaluate our system and model it on systems that work.
  73. J Lufty from Canada writes: The unbelievably ignorant Vern McPherson says 'Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: SH in Windsor, you got that one right. The amount of venom spewed at US Customs in the comments section for stopping that ambulance was unreal. US Customs was just doing their job. The Canadian healthcare system failed to do its job, yet we blame US Customs. ----------------------------------------------------------- Lnda Keen was just doing her job. So why are the COns blaming Linda Keen ?' Well, it is clear that Keen WASN'T doing her job. The Toronto Red Star is reporting (and it must pain them considerably to do so) 'An unproven and overly intricate design that strained the competence of AECL engineers and scientists. Shoddy workmanship and lax quality control, which meant grit particles stopped two sets of safety control rods from shutting down the reactors. An unexplained miscalculation about changes in reactivity – the reactor's oomph – on which the entire safety scenario is based. In the view of most nuclear experts and informed observers, these AECL failures are the real cause of last month's crisis in isotope production that culminated this week in the Harper government's unprecedented firing of Linda Keen, president of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. A contributing factor was the refusal of the Liberal government under Jean Chrétien to commit roughly $500 million to replace the Universal reactor with a super-reactor called the Canadian Neutron Facility dedicated to scientific research, and test new designs for the CANDU power reactor.' So as Keen was in charge of this gong show and as President it is crystal clear that she was not doing her job and she was appropriately fired. That should be repeated as required in the civil service. Civil servants almost never get fired. And of course the Liberals figure strongly into the whole equation.
  74. Mike Sumners from Anytown, Canada writes: Restore federal funding of health care to 50% and fire the bureaucrats who pull in six-figure salaries for doing nothing.
  75. Being Canadian from Canada writes: We should have a 'pay as you go' health care system. It's much more efficient. If you can't afford to pay, tough, that's not MY problem, you should have worked harder and been better prepared. I'm sick of my taxes going to everyone, when everyone is not deserving. This is just another example of socialism gone amuck.
  76. jay bow from NY, United States writes: wasn't the healtcare tax in ontario...on top of all the federal, provincial, taxes that are paid...supposed to pay for this?? oh yea, politicians don't understand economics..they are philisophical fools as evidenced by the numerous let downs in the so called best system in the world.... what a joke.
  77. David Reiff from United States writes: I just read an article in The Star about how the tend continues: fewer and fewer Americans are traveling to Canada and more and more Canadians are traveling to the US. Turns out quite a few of those Canadians are arriving in ambulances to receive medical care they've been denied in Canada.
  78. Pete H from Canada writes: A quick look at the web site for 2007 Salary disclosure over $ 100 K in the Ontario Health care system and here is what you get. Total making over $100 k = 3,113. Total salaries and benefits of these 3,113= $ 494 M of which 45 made in excess of $ 400 K with the top earner making over $ 700 k in 2007. Almost half a billion in salaries alone to the elite management within a publicly funded system that ships those in need of critical care to the US. Still think something isn't broke.
  79. PETER BELL fromTheCenteroftheNonExistantCentristParty from Canada writes: ...Being rushed to Emergency by ambulance?? Take the following documents:

    Needed: Driver's Licence or Health Card with PICTURE I.D. plus your BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

    Mister HARPEUR had better tell Canadians that should they be rushed to hospital, they should also bring said documents just in case they are transferred to some U.S. HOSPITAL.

    Make the message very CLEAR, Mister HARPEUR, since your Misteur Bush says one thing and his Misteur Chertoff says another.

    I personally don't care since I carry my two passports at all times (British and Canadian). Should you not be aware, you are allowed to carry your British and Canadian passports and show them both at the same time when you arrive in the United States. With gray hair, a dignified subdued queen's english, you are welcome with open arms.
  80. jack sprat from Canada writes: This was a Harper promise to reduce wait times and pay for health care if transferred to other jurisdictions. BUt that promise is also long gone.

    INstead we save money if we spend through GST cuts and the war equipment has a bigger price tag than most other programs put together.

    Danny Williams is dead on. Get this guy Steve outta here
  81. Nancy Wilson from N.Ontario, Canada writes: Laundry workers,floor moppers,kitchen workers,etc.,often unskilled and uneducated ,are often making 3 times minimum wage in hospitals. That same job that they're doing would be paying minimum wage anywhere else.
    Give them a fair wage,but not 3 times what they should be paid.
    Add to that,benefits,pension plans etc. and that in itself is a huge cost to the system.
  82. Dr Demento from Canada writes: David Reiff from United States writes:

    'Turns out quite a few of those Canadians are arriving in ambulances to receive medical care they've been denied in Canada. '

    Unlike Americans, no Canadians are 'denied' treatment. Any Canadian patients transported to the US for treatment have all their costs covered by their respective provincial health insurance coverage.

    The beneficiaries are the US hospitals which obtain extra revenues.
  83. p m from Canada writes: I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our politicians, past and present, who have managed to provide us with the health care system that we have today.

    In particular, I would like those politicians who continually bleet that Canada has the worlds best system and recommend that they take a course of action designed to provide them with a Darwin Award.
  84. PETER BELL fromTheCenteroftheNonExistantCentristParty from Canada writes: Know what. Those Lockheed C transport planes will be very useful. Mister Harpeur could use them to transfer a whole hospital I.C.U. in one shot and send them to Texass, New Yack, Coolifornia.

    How much do they cost, those C transport planes. Billions upon billions with twenty-year service contract to be provided in the USA. Brilliant. We could even close a few hospitals and transfer all the patients to the USA provided they show up with their proper documents. In this case, being transferred by plane, you will need your PASSPORTS. If going by ambulance, the usual picture I.D. and Birth Certificate will suffice.
  85. A PM from Canada writes: Bigbusiness is broke, the CEOs earn a ridicules amount of money, even when they bankrupt the company with their bad decisions these people still walk away with bulging pockets, while the worker walks away with absoloutly nothing even though he was not the cause of the bankruptcy, 'Yeah its broke' the slime is not at the bottom its all at the top. While your at it, check out what the healthcare in the other provinces/USA is, maybe their not so open, and are no different.
  86. Nancy Wilson from N.Ontario, Canada writes: Jack sprat,
    Do you think we should just get rid of the military altogether?
    If,as I said,that we are going to HAVE a military at all,why do you think that they don't require the neccessary equipment and funding to do their jobs??
    They've been underfunded for many years and it will take a lot of money to get them up to standard in their requirements.
  87. M F from Canada writes: Rain Couver, you may be interested to know what is happening in the NHS in Britain....not something we wan't to emulate here I don't think.

    In the NHS, some patients are being denied expensive cancer meds. When they go to pay for it privately, they are then denied coverage in the public system and told that they have 'opted out' out of the public system based on having paid for the expensive medication that the NHS wouldn't cover.

    Starting to sound familiar?

    Yes, too often decision makers in health care look to copy the NHS, only to