Editor:
I moved to Burnaby last year from the far part of the Fraser Valley so I could ditch my car and be close to work.
Walking to work has saved me a lot of money, but it’s not quite enough to offset the high cost of housing in Burnaby. I do, however, get two hours of my life back that was spent in traffic, which has improved my mental health.
What isn’t an acceptable trade-off is having to give up my family doctor. Since I no longer have a car, it’s not feasible to go all the way out to the far part of the Fraser Valley.
I knew it’s a challenge to find a new family doctor because there’s a shortage, but I didn’t think my personal health issues would be the reason why I can’t find one.
I have some significant health challenges that have dogged me for most of my life and I guess make me a handful for a doctor. I need to go to a lot of medical appointments and need constant testing. My old doctor used to joke about it, but as I have applied to several local medical offices to get a permanent doctor the reaction has been anything but funny.
They won’t actually come out and say it but I’ve gotten the not-so-subtle message that I get sick too much and would require too many in-person appointments to make it worth having me as a patient. Doctors nowadays seem to still want to stick with mostly telehealth because, I guess, they can fit in more appointments?
I know I’m not the only one struggling to find a family doctor, but my health issues should not be the reason for disqualifying me.
K. Smith, Burnaby
