East Kootenay residents call for improvements to health care
CBC
Residents in B.C.'s East Kootenay want to see improvements to health care this election, with many forced to travel to get the care they need.
The southeastern region, like most more rural areas of the province, is short on family doctors and specialized medical care, alike. Access to cancer care is especially thin, with the nearest treatment centre located hundreds of kilometres away.
According to B.C.'s Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), 263 East Kootenay residents had to travel to Kelowna or beyond to receive radiation treatment last year.
That may soon be the case for Cranbrook mother Cheyenne Hebert and her 15-year-old daughter Sierra, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour in June after suffering a seizure.
The two have been in a difficult limbo since then while they wait to hear if the tumour is life-threatening or not. In the meantime, Sierra said she continues to suffer several seizures a week.
"I don't remember anything from my seizures, but it must scare my family a lot," she said.
Hebert said the wait is taking a toll in other ways, too.
"It is hard, super hard. Especially with Sierra — her mental health is declining. You know, she can't go to school."
Hebert said Sierra was referred to the B.C. Children's Hospital in Vancouver after her first seizure, but that they only heard from the centre's epilepsy clinic this week.
In an emailed statement to CBC News, a spokesperson for the B.C. Children's Hospital said they cannot speak to the specifics of individual patients due to confidentiality reasons.
However, they added that leadership is "aware of this patient, and our providers are following up with the family directly to support them on their care journey. We sincerely apologize for any distress caused to this patient and their family while awaiting an appointment at our hospital."
While they don't have the full prognosis yet, Herbert said they will have to travel to Vancouver for whatever care Sierra needs.
The same is true for many other Kootenay residents, too. Thorough medical care simply isn't always available close to home.
CBC News asked for input on the issue from residents in the East Kootenay and received more than 37 emails in response. Many came from people who have to travel for medical care and appointments, while others said they are on a long wait-list for a family doctor.
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