Yesterday during Question Period Gary Coons, the MLA for North Coast, shared with the Health Minister the story of David Yasko, a patient from the Queen Charolette Islands who was medivaced to Kitimat for treatment and then discharged with no money, no coat, and no assistance for the journey home.
“Mr. Yasko had to find his own way home, at his own expense,” Coons informed Minister George Abbott.
“The Minister and the B.C. Liberal government must agree that there is something dreadfully wrong with the picture of a patient just released from hospital left to find their way home unassisted,” said Coons. “A journey home for some, like residents of the Queen Charlottes, can take days to make.”
Coons said he is hearing these kinds of stories too often, and is frustrated that the Minister seems to think it is not the responsibility of the health system to ensure patients get home safely after having to travel great distances for care.
“In many cases, rural patients are traveling farther for care because of government closures and downsizing of hospitals closer to home,” said Coons. “This is not timely health care, when and where you need it, so why does this government continue to leave rural patients behind?
“I will keep asking these questions of the government until I see the Minister of Health take the issue seriously and start caring about rural patients.”