Fwd: Healthcare story/The UCP is starving our system

On November 6th, 2025 my husband suddenly lost circulation to his lower leg. We went to GNH in Edmonton as it is the vascular site. His foot was cold and pulseless(this is also extremely painful). I had been a vascular nurse for 15 years back in the late 80’s early 90’s. I knew exactly what it was and I had him there under an hour from onset. We were triaged and given CTAS 2(this is emergent- to be seen within 15 minutes). We waited for at least 21/2 hours before being assessed by triage again. I later learned that there was 19 CTAS 2s in that waiting room that day. Some had been waiting 5 hours so we were really “lucky” it was only 3 before we saw a doctor…..As Dr. Parks says once you get in a stretcher care is excellent. He had his CT angiogram within an hour of getting back there and had a popliteal aneurysm which threw clot to obstruct the arteries to his lower leg. With these type of aneurysms you often have another one. Once he was through recovery which involved surgeries both vascular and plastic surgery. The vascular surgeon said he needed a chest CT angiogram within within 6 months to rule out a chest aneurysm. We got an appointment for 11 months from then. It was booked for November of this year. I realize that is good compared to other waits but considering if he had one it would involve Cardiology needing to be involved and potentially the risk of one we opted to pay for it. I called to book it and he had it within 10 days. I am so sad and angry as a nurse. We could pay it, but if we could get it in 10 days this is forcing people to pay because at 60 although his leg was saved, there is damage that he will live with and to risk another outcome which could be death was not an option for us. However I know for every one of us there are others that don’t have that option. They are no less important than us.

#2 my father developed issues with walking which was related to borrowing of spine putting pressure on his spinal cord. He needed an MRI but because he had a pacemaker he needed it at a hospital (UAH/RAH). They were not able to give him an appointment and said they would call with one when they had it. After a few months and his continued deterioration his family doctor started looking at alternatives which would be a CT. The wait for it was going to be months so they paid for it and then finally based on those results they were able to get another test and surgery 3 months later as the narrowing was to a point he was risking paralysis. If they hadn’t paid iI’m not sure how this would have turned out. 

Again this government starving our system is pushing people to private if they can come up with the money. I hate to use afford because I don’t think some people feel they have a choice based on the potential outcomes from a delay in the radiology procedures.

I’m not sure these are the stories you are looking for, but this matters to me. I worked so hard through healthcare reorganization my entire career try to hold pieces together to ensure our patients had the care they need. I watched incredible teams shattered with no thought to the great work that was happening. Then when it is recognized that it was important you can never get them glued back quite the same. Instead of just working to fix our areas that we’re not running well they always smash it. This time however it has felt personal like they just want to crush it to show they can with no thought to the patients picking up the tab for this. I am truly scared for our people in Alberta. I have never felt this vulnerable if I have a medical event or anyone does due to this and the fall is going to be even worse….

Take good care and know there are many of us who appreciate all you’re doing!