Have our elected representatives failed us?

BY STEVEN KASZAB

TVO Today has pointed out that our local healthcare system has many problems, and now our provinces do not have enough ambulances. Medical emergencies, elder care needs all depend upon ambulances for priority transport to medical care.

Does our healthcare situation make you angry, disappointed, depressed, fatalistic, surprised, anxious, bewildered or shocked?

What has our healthcare management team (Health Ministry) been doing these past 5 years? Sure there has been a pandemic to live through, but this century health event has only pointed out our healthcare failings and strengths.

Our strengths:

Healthcare professionals – doctors, nurses and all invited to the hospital establishments process are the backbone of an otherwise failing system.

Weaknesses:

Hospital management-never prepared for any eventuality. Their budgets always an excuse.

Political provincial administrations: Not only unprepared, but tightwads with the public funding received from the Federal Government available to fight this pandemic.

There is no foresight within the management teams of the health system and the political administrations that fund them.

In the business world, as in the military we are required to apply foresight to every situation.

• What is the situation presently?
• What will be needed in the near and distant future?
• Are staffing levels manageable or should an excess staff proponent be developed?
• Are our funding levels appropriate for the times and present-day situations?
• Are all aspects of the operation acceptable? Transportation, equipment, staffing and training?

Our politicians have failed us badly. There is a total lack of imagination among this lot. No planning, no creative thought among them outside of how they will get re-elected and their personal benefit increased. Are we unhappy with those who manage our healthcare? YOU BET!

The Chinese communists have the foresight to establish 5-10-year plans and work towards achieving them. Our system seems to have no such plans, only to react in an unprepared manner, never respond with thought out processes. Whether in a small or large nation, transportation is key to our social survival. The staffing of our social arm agencies imperative. Funding available and held in reserve for those rainy days.

The next Provincial and Federal elections will be key to the publics’ mind set. Should these political administrations stay, or should they go?