Dear Editor,
I could not agree more with your recent editorial on the dreadful state of Ontario’s emergency departments (“An emergency is an emergency,” July 9).
I never thought I would see the day when I lived in a province in which there are constant announcements about this or that emergency department shutting down for the next few days or having emergency ward wait times that are measured in hours. And all of this from a government that promised when first elected in 2018 to get rid of “hallway healthcare”. So much for “getting things done”.
The editor is correct in pointing out that at the root of much of this is the lack of family doctors in our province. Quite simply, if people are able to access relevant healthcare in a timely manner, then trips to emergency wards will be greatly reduced. The province is now promising in very vague terms that it will have ways to “connect” Ontarians with primary care, but I have yet to see any details. So, I am not holding my breath.
Perhaps if the Ford administration stopped spending so much time on making it easier for Ontarians to buy intoxicants, dreaming up fantasy tunnels, etc. etc., it could devote more attention to improving public health care. Again, sadly, I am not holding my breath.
At any rate, thank you for your spirited and thoughtful comments on a vital public issue.
Sincerely,
Kerry Badgley
Kemptville
