 |
|
BREAKING NEWS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Last updated at 11:35 AM on 22/04/08 |
|
Michelle Stewart photo/Nicole Blake’s dream of starting a new life in Labrador City was quickly destroyed when she learned she can’t even get a family doctor. Her eight-year old son requires regular medical assessments for his disorders —the family of five maybe forced to relocate in order to get him a doctor. |
|
|
My boy needs a doctor 
Family may have to leave Labrador City
MICHELLE STEWART
The Aurora
Labrador City has all the town qualities Nicole Blake dreamed of for her family, but there's something critical missing - a doctor.
The Blakes moved from Goose Bay less than a month ago and the mother of four young children says she was turned down by the four family physicians when she sought to find one.
"I was told by each doctor's office that they were not taking any new patients," she said. "I need a family doctor, my oldest son needs regular assessments and monitoring."
Nicole's eight-year-old son Kyle is diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) as well as a more concerning disorder known as Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).
The mother painfully describes her child's problems that are manifested often in impulsive and sometimes violent behaviours.
His disorders cause him to be sent home from school day after day when his behaviour can't be controlled. He has aggressive outbursts towards others and she fears he may hurt someone or himself. In an effort to control his behaviours, Kyle is on medication that was prescribed by their family doctor in Goose Bay. Because of several side effects and possible complications, the boy must be medically assessed at three-month intervals. The boy suffers from a number of side effects including insomnia and loss of appetite. While on the medication, she says, he needs to be seen regularly by a family doctor.
"Now, I have no choice but to travel to Goose Bay to see our family doctor, when I need to have him assessed, because I can't get a family doctor here in Labrador City to take us on," she explained. "The cost of travelling back and forth to Goose Bay is far more than we can afford."
Her husband William currently works as a mill operator at Voisey's Bay but hopes to secure a job at IOC soon-hence the family's reason for moving to Labrador City. Nicole is a stay-at-home mom taking care of Kyle along with their other children ages three, four and seven.
Driving the Trans Labrador Highway with her son is not an option she feels comfortable with especially with the child's problems being in a vehicle for such an extended amount of time along with the unpredictable road conditions.
The mother checked into the cost of flying into Goose Bay and learned it would be more than $1,300 for airfare for the two of them plus the costs of a hotel and meals.
"That would cost more than $5,000 each year just to get my son the medical help he needs," she calculated. "I called the MHA's [Jim Baker's] office and they told me there is a medical transportation assistance program, which I qualify for, that covers up to $1,000 per 12 months. Wow, that $1,000 will be a huge help! With all of the resources now available this day and age, that's as much help as they can offer."
Nicole's family income simply cannot support such a huge expense, an expense that is there simply because she cannot get a family doctor in Labrador City.
She fears she will have to move again; a disheartening option for the family that just incurred the expense of moving to Labrador West.
"I hear everyone talking about how they want Labrador City to expand, and about all the employees that will be coming to work for IOC and to live in town," Nicole said. "Well, if nothing is done about the health care system, or the road conditions, this could easily become a downfall for the town. I love it here and don't want to move. Idealistically, I would like to purchase a home and have my family settle down here, but realistically, if nothing is done my family will have to relocate again, and this time probably to St. John's just to solve all of the travel issues."
Nicole knows the next few years will be challenging enough with her trying to keep ahead of the challenges her son's disorders will bring. She has a younger child she suspects may have similar problems, but she says she is determined to give them every bit of medical help available. As a mother, she feels that is her duty and obligation. She is frustrated and disappointed to learn her son might lose out if she stays in Lab. West. She wasn't prepared for the letdown.
"This is a great place to live, but the healthcare is despicable," she stated. "I think more people dealing with this issue should come forward and speak up. The government seems to be constantly putting Labrador West on the backburner, and it needs to stop. The truth is, it's only great place to live as long as you're healthy!"
|
21/04/08
|
Comments: |
|
This Conversation is Semi-Moderated. What is moderation?
|
| What does moderation mean? |
 |
The Aurora is committed to encouraging intelligent discourse among our readers and to creating a forum where diverse views and opinions on a wide range of topics can be aired. The forum you are in now is a result of our continuing efforts to facilitate a dynamic online conversation among our readers.
This is a semi-moderated or reactively moderated conversation. Once a reader follows the steps to register and submit his or her comment it goes directly to the website. A comment may be edited or deleted for reasons of content or language.
All readers wishing to join a conversation must first sign in and agree to the Terms of Usage, which explain the rules of acceptable content.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Janice from NS writes: Check out this website. It helps families with airfare for medical appointments. I am not sure of their criteria though...good luck!
http://www.hopeair.org/index.html
|
| Posted 22/04/2008 at 2:21 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
Frank Blackwood from Richmond Hill,, Ontario writes: It is very obvious that physicians are very selective when it comes to the people they want to treat. I don,t understand why doctor's don,t reach out to those who are having problems as Mrs. Blake is having with her son? Is it because they are not specialized in treating this child who is suffering so much, and the parents as well. They are good citizens, and their son is of great importance to society as well, he needs to be cared for like anyone else.
What I would suggest is she send off a registered letter to the minister of health, Ross Wiseman who might get to read it.This problem needs attention now, not when it is too late for the child and family. I don't think the doctors really understand this problem.
Mrs. Blake needs to see a doctor soon, and he can refer this problem to a specialist for consultation and treatment, perhaps in a setting other than Labrador City, temporarily. There are services available in Newfoundland and Labrador to help this wonderful child.
A social worker should be involved as well to help the parents with such a stressful time in their life, plus the child who is suffering more than the eye meets. Doctors see a lot of patients in a week, don,t they have a human slot for this little kid?
|
| Posted 26/04/2008 at 11:08 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
NOTE
The management of this site emphasizes that it is in no way liable for persons, physical or legal, who are hosted here. Moreover, the managers of this site may not be held liable for errors and omissions that may slip into the information displayed in these reader comments. Everyone who submits a comment should read, understand and agree to the Terms of Usage for this section.
|
|
|
|
|
