After reading a few very negative reports on our health care system, I feel I have to write to you about my very good experience.
I was having a problem breathing. My wife took me to the new urgent care clinic in Parksville. A very professional nurse realized I was in trouble and handed me over to a medical team who were compassionate and caring.
After the tests all came back and it was found I was having a heart attack, the team moved into high gear and quickly stabilized me. Dr. Edmunds and his crew were fantastic — they got me ready for sending to Nanaimo General in a special ambulance, along with a nurse, where I was met with another crew of doctors and nurses who double checked everything and declared I was in no immediate danger and was being sent to Royal Jubilee, as they were best at handling my problem.
I spent the night at Nanaimo and was looked after like a king, given a light meal and the next day sent to Victoria, where I was set upon by another very professional and compassionate crew of cardiac doctors and nurses and was told I was going for an echo cardiograph the next day, which found I had four blocked arteries and would have to have open heart surgery.
In the room in critical care, I became very scared and lonely and a wonderful nurse sat with me for awhile and explained what would go on and so forth and calmed me down. I was given a phone and phoned my wife who came down next day along with my sons, one who had flown in from Afghanistan.
The care I was getting was fantastic. As far as I am concerned, we the people on Vancouver Island have nothing to worry about our health care. I will never complain about my taxes again. My hat is off to our doctors and nurses and paramedics — you were great.
Bob Jacobs
Parksville
