Letters

Editor,

Like many folks from other lands, I have not been exactly eager to enjoy the hospitality of the local public hospital, Hospital General. Sure, I’d heard lots of good things. I’d also been there for a consult, which was semi-daunting experience because I’m used to private health, not a clinic experience, but I got good care (actually, better in that instance than I’d gotten for the same illness in private care offices and facilities locally).

Recently, I found myself in a precarious health situation and called my private doc for advice—go to Hospital General’s emergency room. I got there, received immediate attention, saw one of the most caring docs of my life, and subsequently was admitted into critical care isolation where I was treated very well. The following day, I was sent to what we might call a ward of five women, and again was well cared for.

When we paid the bill, it was around US$175 for the entire experience. Later, I found myself in another abrupt health situation, and the aftercare instructions mentioned my symptoms and said that I had an open appointment with the ER should I experience the symptoms I had. I went, got treated well, and the bill was nothing!

Would I prefer to have a private room, a better bathroom, a better shower, better food, and a pillow? Sure! But, my docs, nurses, orderlies, security, social workers and whatever else they had in the personnel department were as good as they get. It’s a very different experience, but it serves its purpose.

I would urge folks from other lands to use other resources if they are available if only to keep space available at Hospital General for the five counties of people it stays pretty full serving. That said, if we folks need to go to Hospital General, we should only be ready for a different—yet very caring—experience.

Robin Loving Rowland