Memo to Aging Ontarians: This--Being Shafted by Ambulence Services Because You're Old--Is a Preview of Your Future
Everyday life in a socialized health care "utopia" : who needs "death panels" when, in a pinch, ambulance dispatchers will decide if you're "ambulance worthy" based on your advanced age?
An 87-year-old Toronto woman died in December after waiting three hours with abdominal pain for an ambulance that was delayed "due to limited resources," a CBC investigation reveals.
An internal Toronto Emergency Medical Services ambulance dispatch record also shows a series of ambulances were at first dispatched to her location but then diverted to other calls.
The incident highlights a growing challenge for Toronto and the rest of Canada, as an aging population puts more demand on emergency services, including ambulances, advocates for the elderly say...
Was the daughter on call for elderly Mum (now gone) and had reason to call 911 a few times, if only because couldn't get her to my car to head to hospital. Always had good service, even if it was - upon occasion - the local fire department who turned up. Tribute to whom tribute is due: the men (mostly) and women who came were really great. I remember when we called EMS after Mum had a stroke (she phoned our home and left a seriously wierd message which had us all heading her way) but didn't think she needed anything more than a good night's sleep. The EMS people diplomatically agreed with her but indicated that we - the family - rather thought she should head hospital-ward. Such was their diplomacy that Mum went willingly.
ReplyDeleteThe story you relate is truly tragic. The big issue is why seven ambulances were diverted to 'more urgent' cases; someone needs to track said cases and see if errors were made in making priorities.