Earlier in 2019, the government put out an ad that was meant to recruit people into nursing. However, as Paradis explained, it instead showed nurses wearing spa masks, which was considered to be demeaning to the profession. She felt it showed the government did not have a clue about health care, and that there was no way that ad could get through the various checks and balances if they did.
As well, there were concerns about the negative impact of decisions on health care, both urban and rural, that the current government has made.
“It’s not just about us, it is about our patients. We are ultimately public servants and that is what really makes us concerned.”
Paradis decided to write a public letter to the premier regarding these issues, feeling her position gave her an opportunity to speak out in a way that others might not be able to. She sent her letter to colleagues and instructors to proofread before she sent it, and received multiple thumbs’ up. Although some were skeptical it would ever see the light of day if sent to the media, the Brandon Sun printed her letter in its entirety, while CBC published the vast majority of it.
In her letter, Paradis opens by mentioning the disastrous ad and how it showed they were out of touch with health care. She then moves on to more specific concerns. For example, she said the government reorganized and closed ER departments in Winnipeg. As well, they recently announced the closure of the St. Boniface Family Medicine Centre. That, she said, threw all health care professionals from that facility into uncertainty, as they are to be “redistributed” to other sites without input. In the letter, Paradis added she feels this is the attitude that will follow into rural health care.
In fact, she said, that has already been shown. The announced closure of certain rural ambulance sites, one being Boissevain, to be run on a more regional fashion, demonstrates a lack of concern for rural medicine.
“The answer is not to get rid of things,” she stated. “We need to keep ambulances where they are. If anything, we need to expand services, not get rid of them.”
Paradis used the example of shuttle services that are used in urban areas, where people who are stable or just need a ride to a doctor use a different service than an ambulance to get to where they need to be. This is the type of expansion that could work well and relatively inexpensively in a rural area.
She added there are unnecessary stresses on health care professionals, like changes in documentation that do not allow doctors to dictate the reports, but force them to type them out. It is an example of them being “browbeaten by paperwork.” Certain jobs are vacant and are not filled. People retire and are not replaced, positions are not being advertised. Paradis says it is frustrating. It is also frustrating to be kept out of the loop.
“All of this is being done without consultation with health care professionals. There are people discussing this with Pallister, but it is all hush-hush. Most physicians don’t have any idea what is going on. They only find out after.”
She shared a story from a nurse friend who had to leave a grieving spouse by his wife’s bedside because they were so busy. By the time she could return to him, he was gone. She cried in the car after her shift, thinking of how hard it would be to be alone in the most devastating moment of your life. Paradis said she adapted the story for privacy’s sake, but added there would likely be thousands of these heartbreaking stories across the province, particularly in rural areas. They are short-staffed, suffering from burnout and people do not want to work in Manitoba due to uncertainty.
Paradis has a few suggestions. She said if cuts are made, they should be to administration first. There needs to be more attention given to providing front line health care, including not just physicians, but also lab, x-ray and nursing positions. As well, there needs to be better distribution of these positions – not all in Winnipeg.
So far, she has heard a lot of positive comments to her letter, including from people from her neck of the woods. Paradis said people trust the views of a rural physician on rural health issues. She has also met with Opposition Leader Wab Kinew and is keeping a dialogue open with him. As of yet, there has been no word from Premier Pallister, but she is looking to print her letter and send it to the government directly, telling him the opposition cares about what she says. Paradis insists it is not a political issue, however, but a policy one.
“What many colleagues in the younger demographic are saying is they are not interested in party,” she explained, “but interested in policy.”
Ultimately, she wants to continue to use her power as a physician to keep pushing for change and to give a voice to those who do not have one in health care. In August, she will be moving on to her practice in St. Rose du Lac, where she will be doing rural family medicine and working in addiction treatment at the Willard Monson House. Paradis will continue to fight to make a difference.
“Just because we are out here does not mean we will be silent. I’m still young and eager enough to make change.”
by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff