A Victoria woman is blaming a shortage of doctors in the region for an inability to get a prescription filled for medication that keeps her from feeling suicidal.
Sarah (not her real name as Black Press Media has agreed to protect her identity) shared an email exchange with a local medical clinic she is a patient at in which she was told she would have to wait 16 days for a phone appointment to have her prescriptions filled.
Sarah told the clinic staff member that the long wait would mean her prescriptions would expire and she would be without the medicine helps her deal with mental health issues – including “suicidal thoughts.”
Sarah said she appreciated that other patients have needs, but felt hers were life-threatening issues. Instead, the staff member chided Sarah.
“This is all we have,” the staff member wrote. “Next time, don’t wait til your (sic) out of meds. We book in advance.”
Sarah said she hasn’t had this kind of problem before.
“Even when I told this person that without my refills for one day I become suicidal, they don’t care.”
Sarah said a lack of doctors at the clinic has made even phone appointments more difficult.
“Something has to change here and this person who emailed me must be held accountable for their uncaring, evil behaviour of blaming it on me for not known that they require 16 days notice for an appointment,” said Sarah. “This is unacceptable and the public needs to know this type of thing is going on.”
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The doctor shortage is being felt all across Canada. In Victoria, it has led to rallies and protests, like one organized by BC Health Care Matters that drew 400 people to the lawn of the legislature in May 2022 on World Family Doctor Day.
“If the government continues to not be transparent and continues to delay taking action, then we will continue to ramp up our efforts and highlight the need for action now,” said Camille Currie, found of the group. She noted at the time that even some family doctors don’t have their own family physician.
“I have witnessed the benefits of having a family doctor that knows us, knows our conditions and that grows with us,” said Currie, a complex-needs patient herself.
Current data indicate one in five British Columbians and 100,000 Greater Victoria residents lack a family doctor, a stat highlighted by the ralliers.