Having heard of the pros and cons of our medical system, I thought this would be good opportunity to tell my personal experience with the system.
My story starts on April 28 when I went to the Olds Hospital emergency department at about 11:30 p.m.
I was processed quickly and had to wait about 15 minutes for the doctor to see me.
I was given a thorough examination, complete with blood tests and X-rays. The doctor, after checking all the tests, discovered what he thought was my problem and indicated a trip to Red Deer for emergency surgery was required. All local ambulances were busy and I had to wait about 30 minutes for one from Three Hills.
and away we went at around 2:30 a.m., arriving around 3:15 a.m.
I had a short wait in triage in Red Deer and then went to emergency where all the information from Olds was waiting. I was being prepped for the surgery and told the doctor was on his way and that the operating room was being readied. It was exactly 5 a.m. when I was taken to the operating room and then to recovery at 7 a.m. where I woke up. I was then taken to a ward to be looked after while still groggy.
The doctor came to see me in the afternoon and told me the extent of my surgery and that I was lucky that everything worked out so well right from Olds emergency through to the end of the surgery.
I was discharged from the Red Deer hospital on May 2 and sent home to recover.
I would like to thank the doctor, nurse and technicians at Olds Hospital, the ambulance people from Three Hills, the emergency staff at Red Deer Regional Hospital, the doctor and operating staff and all the people who cared for me on Unit 23.
From my perspective, the health system worked very well for me and not one politician was interfering with the professionals doing their job.
Ken Frayn
Bowden