For the last five nights on Global TV evening news, the first item has been the Emergency Department at our local hospital. The doctors have gone on TV explaining the situation is in a crisis! When an ER doctor puts his job on the line and says he wouldn't send a family member to the ER he works at as the lack of doctors, nurses and space for patients is so bad, you know it's a problem. Then the head of Gynecology came on two days ago and said a baby died because of lack of care. How horrific it's become and I blame the Ministry of Health.
I was there less two weeks ago and although I was in the hallway, I could not complain about my care. I was in the heart ward! I was fortunate.
Emergency Room wait times have been available in Vancouver Coastal Health Region for a few years but Fraser Health has never made them public. Thanks to the media and the reports of the horrific situation at our local hospitals, here is a link where you can get updated information:
The above link also shows the Urgent and Primary Care Centers. If your problem is not life threatening, go to Urgent Care. They are fabulous at Urgent Care and the wait times are much less. They have access to the hospital and if you need to go, they will direct you and forward all your information!
I've checked the website and I find it hard to believe the times shown are correct. Either people have stopped going there and diverting to other hospitals or the times are misleading! Our provincial government has really let us down in health care.
