LETTER: Urgent treatment centre in Cape Breton needs a review

There is an urgent treatment centre at the Victoria County Memorial Hospital in Baddeck. Photo by Meoshe Thompson /ContributedArticle contentI am a long-term resident of Victoria County. I am living with a medical condition that requires, from time to time, medical intervention/treatment.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentArticle contentOn Oct. 24, I called the urgent treatment centre in Baddeck, essentially looking to have an antibiotic drug routinely issued to treat my symptoms.Article contentArticle contentWhen you call the hospital, you get a telephone message as follows: hours of work, do you wish to cancel an appointment, and lastly, do you wish to make an appointment – hold for the nurse.Article contentWhen the nurse picked up the phone, I explained my condition, suggesting I needed to see a doctor to examine myself, which routinely only requires issuance of the most appropriate antibiotic. The nurse informed me that they only accept outpatients whose condition can be evaluated and diagnosed within 20-minute appointment windows, and she did not think my case would fit within the 20-minute window so go to emerg.Article contentI asked her which one. She said, Sydney, Inverness or whichever- maybe Richmond and asked, “Do you have a family doctor?”Article contentI am thinking that will cost me a full tank of gas.Article contentThis has been my experience with this facility since they transformed themselves into an urgent treatment centre.Article contentOne has to ask the question: why is this modern, fully staffed hospital clearly underutilized while other nearby institutions are overwhelmed by the patient burden?Article contentI think a review by the Department of Health would determine that the amount of patient throughput admitted into this hospital would be well below that of other similar institutions in the area and therefore not good value for taxpayers.Article contentI recommend that the minister review this inadequacy on an urgent basis-and resume full medical services at this fully outfitted centre for the benefit of all residents in the area.Article contentAdrian Coady,Article contentMiddle RiverArticle content