Originally Posted by m_pather (Post 4470881)

Despite the religious extremism, this place has a very high teenage pregnancy rate!

Originally Posted by m_pather (Post 4470881)

Hi all,

Just wanted to add a comment on my opinion on Abbotsford. I am currently working here (shall be returning to London later this year). Coming from London it has been an immense culture shock. It's known as the Bible belt of Canada as there are more churches here than anywhere else. Being a GP I was amazed to discover from young female patients what drivel has been poured down their throats by other GPs in this town (generally older and male). The hospital here is also shockingly bad! Despite the religious extremism, this place has a very high teenage pregnancy rate! I chose not to live here for various reasons but I have heard (mainly from out of town patients who have moved here) that the locals are not always readily accepting of outsiders. All the new GPs who have come into Abbotsford over the last couple of years are foreign trained as young Canadian trained doctors just won't come here!



In some ways it reminds me of Stepford...I also have found it to be racially segregated, even amongst the younger generation, something I am unaccustomed to from London.

I cannot comment on schools etc., but I wouldn't choose to live here even if I had a family.

These are just my honest opinions (before people start jumping down my throat!):)

Originally Posted by oceanMDX (Post 4472010)

.... but how is the construction on Abbotsford's new hospital progressing?

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 4470895)

Despite, or because of?

Abbortsford is not unique in canada for having a high teen pregnancy rate, but then there is nothing new about that coming from the UK either.

Originally Posted by m_pather (Post 4473960)

If the same people are working in the new hosp which I think will be the case(no matter how fancy the building is) there will be no difference in the quality of care...

Originally Posted by startwin (Post 4474564)

I get the feeling you have a bit of an ax to grind. Something else going on here. I don't live in Abbotsford, but I know a lot of people who do, and are very happy there. And it definitely is not 53% Asian, whoever gave that figure is way out. But even if it was, so what? The only issue I have with Abbotsford is the urban sprawl that is happening and the disappearing farmland.

Originally Posted by pat12 (Post 4475081)

No axe to grind...I am speaking from the perspective of being a doctor who has worked in several hospitals in London and Cape Town, South Africa, so I believe that puts me in a good position to make comparisons. The general standard of nursing is far lower than anything I have encountered before. Arriving on the ward on a Monday morning and asking the nurse designated to look after my patient "how was Mr./Mrs.X over the weekend" and to be informed that "I did not work this weekend/just came on shift/am going on teabreak" is unacceptable. Asking clinical questions and being met with a blank expression is also something I am unaccustomed to. Having clinical orders ignored quite frankly puts patients lives at risk! Most of the GPs here have similar stories to tell. Patients themselves have several horror stories relating to this place. It's just that unlike the UK public, Canadians are too reserved to report their complaints to a newspaper which I have advised them to do. This is not the forum for discussion of healthcare in Canada but I mentioned the hospital as I felt it my duty to do so since the person who started the thread wanted general info about Abbotsford.

Originally Posted by startwin (Post 4475735)

Ah, on the subject of health care you certainly do have a point, our health care is going down the toilet. But so is the health care in the UK. I have a very up-close and personal recent experience of health care in the UK, just a few months ago, when I had the misfortune to require hospitilization in a major city hospital there. A teaching hospital. Frankly, there's not much to choose between the two countries, but I must say our doctors are much more communicative than back there, with the patients. BC in particular has some major issues and unfortunately our provincial government is is hell-bent on following the UK lead on many health care aspects, unfortunately the privatisation of cleaning amongst them. It was never that good before, now it's a despicable. I have a good friend here who is a physiotherapist and came out from the UK last summer to work here. She feels that we are streets ahead in many ways, especially with deplorable wait lists. But we digress, I still don't think Abbotsford deserves the bashing you've given it.

Originally Posted by pat12 (Post 4475776)

I am not "bashing" Abbotsford as you put it. It maybe a wonderful place to you but it certainly is not to me, neither is Vancouver hence my decision to return to London ie home. I am simply stating my opinions which is what discussion forums are for. If people expressing different opinions to you offends you, you have clearly become "Canadianised"!

Originally Posted by startwin (Post 4476510)

I'm certainly not offended, thought we were each stating an opinion. So you believe that Canadians take offence at differing opinions? I can understand why you have decided to return to London.

Originally Posted by startwin (Post 4476510)

I'm certainly not offended, thought we were each stating an opinion. So you believe that Canadians take offence at differing opinions? I can understand why you have decided to return to London.

Originally Posted by Hudman (Post 4476677)

To be fair to the geezer, if you are used to London life Abbotsford/ Fraser valley is a huge culture shock.
You cant even compare the city of Vancouver to London as its a large town, let alone the rather soulless burbs.
Anyone who loves London life would be hard pushed to find anywhere in the Lower Mainland that would be a close substitute.

Originally Posted by pat12 (Post 4477796)

I didn't come here as an immigrant in the first place but on a work permit to broaden my horizons and gain a different work perspective since my profession allows me to work practically anywhere in the world. So it was always my intention to return home. Being in Vancouver/Abbotsford has only made me hasten my departure, which likely wouldn't be the case if I had gone to eg New York. It is true that Canadians take offence easily, have you ever seen a Vancouverite's reaction when their precious town is even remotely criticised? Heaven forbid if someone tells them that Toronto is superior!(which it is in many ways IMO). I am not the only person to find Canadians narrow minded, many posters on this forum have stated the same...

Originally Posted by startwin (Post 4477976)

yet unlike many professional doctors you have a lot of time to spend here.