Health care wait times for older patients causes 'stress and fear', U of C expert says
Older Canadians wait longer than those in 10 other countries to see family doctor, specialists
A nursing professor at the University of Calgary says longer medical wait times for older Canadians could complicate their health conditions.
A new Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) report shows older Canadians have to wait longer than those in 10 other countries to see their family doctor or a specialist.
In Alberta more than half had to wait two days or longer to see their own doctor.
And almost a third waited at least two months for a specialist.
Sandi Hirst, who specializes in older adults at the U of C’s nursing faculty, says one wait makes the other take even longer.
“You go in and see the family doctor then you get the referral. So the delay up front to see your family doctor will cause subsequent delays down the system,” she said.
“You may have then a delay in getting an X-ray, or a specialized test or in seeing a specialist,” Hirst said.
She says that creates fear and stress.
“What's going on here? Is this a permanent condition? Is it acute? How am I changing? It creates stress for the family because of their worry.”
Hirst believes the CIHI study is flawed in that it lumps 55 year olds with people in their 80s and 90s.