Years of neglect by governments

Re: “Parksville man dies while family on 911 half-hour hold,” Sept. 15. Not much makes my blood boil these days, but this article came close. Having had the experience of watching my husband of 40-plus years die of tachycardia, in spite of paramedics and firefighters arriving in just minutes, was the worst experience of my adult life.

My heart goes out to the family. I can imagine their pain. Could his life have been saved by first responders had they been able to get to him sooner? No one will ever know. But my reason for writing this letter is to deter readers from blaming the medical professionals who are doing the best they can in today’s conditions.

It has taken many years of neglect by successive federal governments and 16 years of a provincial Liberal government, which have failed to recognize that hospitals and their medical staff should be a priority.

Using the excuse of having a balanced budget as being more important than people’s health. This of course is done at the expense of average taxpayers and the working poor, who are struggling to get by while taxes for the top earners are decreased and rich companies are given handouts; enabling them to give massive bonuses to their top executives and shareholders.

Something is severely wrong with our system of government when a rich country, such as Canada, is not able to cope with this current emergency. Hospitals and medical staff have been underfunded and undervalued for years.

With the federal election in just a few days, I urge all voters to take a serious look at the voting records and speak with the candidates in their ridings before casting their ballots. We should be asking them each where they stand in increasing federal health transfers to B.C.

Jane McAndry Langford