Editor,
A few days ago, I visited the Urgent Care Centre located at 9639 137A St. in Surrey. Reception told me that I could not see doctor as I was too late to register for the day. But I could be seen by a nurse.
I agreed as I thought it won't take much time. I was wrong, I had to wait for about two hours.
The nurse asked me to get something checked at Surrey Memorial Hospital. I went to the hospital about 3 p.m. Doctor saw me at 12 midnight, and determined that there was no need for me to come to hospital. So the nurse had wrongly sent me to hospital. At Surrey Memorial, I saw many of the same patients whom I had seen at the Urgent Care Centre.
So B.C. government's actions have made walk-In clinics disappear. They flaunt "urgent care centres." But what is the use if there are not sufficient number of doctors to see the patients?
Asking nurses to see patients is no good. They don't have confidence to see the ailment and prescribe medication. It's wastage of resources.
First, patient waits two hours at Urgent Care Centre and then he spends nine to 12 hours at the hospital to see a doctor.
Note: There are thousands of qualified, experienced immigrant doctors in Canada, why doesn't the government license them?
Prof. Kuldip Pelia, Surrey
