Husband and I are in our 70’s. We had a primary care-giver (GP) in Parksville until 2023, when our doctor downsized her caseload. Now when we have a health issue, we go through a process of determining where and how to access some form of support… Drive to walk-in clinic in Nanaimo, Port Alberni, or Courtenay? Urgent Care? NRGH Emerg? Call 811? Or find an ancillary care provider $$$? (Can’t even get in to see my podiatrist until 5 months away!). All of which is done when feeling unwell, stressed, and least able to take on such a task. There’s no continuity of care. No follow-up on diagnostics. No annual check-up. The lack of health care here is disgusting, especially for a population with a high number of elderly individuals, chronic metabolic disease, and disability. I grew up on the island and for some crazy reason just always assumed that health care would be there for me when I got old. Can’t believe the decline. I really think the whole health-care system needs to be redesigned. It’s currently inefficient and costly to everyone involved, both clinicians and patients. Should we expect that MAID will become an increasingly turned-to and accessible option, with the decline in available health care support? Feds or Prov, seem not to have this figured out. I’m so angry about this… which isn’t good for my health.