Health Care - A Priceless Heritage

Recently I hit a bump in the road of life and found myself in our local Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital.

As a practicing surgeon I, of course, spend a lot of time in hospital. One's professional composure is, however, severely challenged when the hospital is viewed from the perspective of the surgeon as the patient.

I know very well how hospitals work and what to expect - but I am also well aware of just how easily things can go awry because of complications arising from the underlying problem or its management.

My condition initially required careful monitoring in the Intensive Care Unit.

I was acutely reminded of what a privilege it is to live in a country where access to quality health care is truly and meaningfully a right of citizenship. I was also reminded of the many pieces of the puzzle necessary to make this so - everything from peace, order and good government, to community infrastructure, (electricity, clean water, sewage) for the physical plant, its upkeep, heating and maintenance, to the competent, dedicated individuals who provide the necessary services within the system - physicians, nurses and the myriad of supporting staff (Lab, Diagnostic Imaging, Laundry, Housekeeping, Kitchen, Medical Records, Administration, Paramedics etc. etc.)

As it happens my condition required services not available locally and I was evacuated by Air Ambulance to St. John's. As I was loaded into the ambulance at the St. John's Airport in preparation for the trip across town to the Health Sciences Centre, the last view I had was of the pilots (one of whom was one of my former Boy Scouts) cheerfully waving and wishing me good luck - and the inscription beside the door of the airplane which reads:

In Memory of

Dr. Gordon

Waddell

Thomas

Dr. Thomas, a consummate surgeon and my mentor, worked tirelessly to bring modern surgical care to the inhabitants of Northern Newfoundland and the Labrador and championed the introduction of the Air Ambulance Service.

I view this inscription, certainly, as a tribute to Dr. Thomas but also as a reminder of the debt we owe to workers in every capacity, past and present for the benefits we enjoy today.

At the HSC I was treated with the utmost professionalism and competence. Happily, I responded as expected and my recovery has to date been uneventful.

Things were a little topsy- turvy owing to precautions surrounding the H1N1 flu pandemic so visitation was severely restricted. Nonetheless many colleagues on encountering me stopped to chat and I was visited by some of my former students working in the facility.

This experience is a poignant reminder to me that our Health Care System is a priceless part of our heritage.

As noted above it takes a whole community to support a health care facility - a province, indeed, a nation to support an integrated system.

Similarly it takes a whole community to raise the child who will contribute meaningfully to the community of tomorrow.

Hold fast to that priceless heritage to ensure that the legacy of Universal Health Care will be handed down, enhanced, to our children and grandchildren.

I hope soon to be back working among you and getting to know some of you better, both inside and out!

G. William N. Fitzgerald, CM, MD, FRCSC

General Surgeon,

St. Anthony

Letters to the Editor

"As a practicing surgeon I, of course, spend a lot of time in hospital. One's professional composure is, however, severely challenged when the hospital is viewed from the perspective of the surgeon as the patient. ...I was acutely reminded of what a privilege it is to live in a country where access to quality health care is truly and meaningfully a right of citizenship."