By Canadian Press

Frustrated patient’s viral video demonstrates N.S. ‘health crisis,’ doctors say

Apr 26, 2019 | 10:18 AM

HALIFAX — Doctors Nova Scotia says a viral video made by a frustrated young mother who says she waited two years for her cancer diagnosis demonstrates the province’s troubling family doctor shortage.

President-elect Dr. Gary Ernest says the idea that there are people who can’t get help for minor problems, let alone for more serious health issues, constitutes “a health crisis.”

In an emotional Facebook video that has been viewed more than 2.5 million times and struck a national chord, Inez Rudderham says she went undiagnosed with Stage 3 anal cancer for two years due to her lack of access to a family doctor.

The 33-year-old Rudderham described her case as the “face of the health-care crisis in Nova Scotia,” and has asked to meet with Premier Stephen McNeil.

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Ernest noted that Rudderham had to seek care in emergency departments, which he says are not set up to do primary care in ways that a family doctor who knows the patient would.

On Thursday McNeil said his government is trying to update an antiquated health system, and said other jurisdictions face similar issues.

Provincial health officials were trying to meet with Rudderham.

As of March 1, 51,119 people who have registered with the province are currently without a family doctor. National figures place that figure at closer to 100,000, when the number of people who haven’t registered are taken into account.

According to 2017 figures from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, Nova Scotia has 1,234 family doctors and 1,222 specialists for an overall physician total of 2,456, serving a population of about 965,382.

The Canadian Press