AdamfromWales

Thanks to all that have replied. NHS is a wonderful thing to have here in the UK. Out of general interest more than anything else, I wondered what the quality of service is like in Alberta. I'm sure there are many people out there like me who are planning a move soon and are wondering what kind of service they can expect.

Britainbound1

The NHS is the best in the world, The AHS is definitely not....Sorry, but there it is, you do have a better chance of getting relevant tests done here quicker, for example, blood tests, xrays, mammograms etc, which is 'simple' health care but if you are unfortunate to encounter the need for surgery or anything more 'in depth' then the problems start, I have personal experience of this and have been in agony ever since and know of several other people with issues. One poor soul that I know of lost his life with the same surgeon that I had (covered up by the AHS who packed the surgeon off to Toronto for 're-training)

There have been many many problems with the AHS in the time that I have lived in Canada and to be honest I'm fed up with their constant guesswork and their inability to diagnose conditions without the need to pump pills into everyone, it's their back up plan when they don't know what is wrong...pill barmy they are!!

Sorry if anyone doesn't like what I have said but you can only speak from experience and the stories that you hear from others, I am actually terrified of ever having to go into hospital here again, so I'm off as soon as possible.

scilly

We all have our stories about everywhere.

I have horror stories of my treatment under the NHS way back when and hope that things are better.

But I also blame the NHS for my brother's untimely death in more recent times. He would have received much more timely treatment here, and I would still have my big brother.

The treatment we have received in BC has been really good and I have no complaints, either about the treatment or the time taken to get to see specialists or have tests.

Britainbound1

Indeed we do have our own personal story, The NHS saved mt dad's life way back in 1989 so we all have our own views, I'm not suggesting that all of Canada is the same but the AHS is just awful, there is no point sugar coating things but they tend to guess at things constantly or just admit that they ' just don't know' I suppose it's about where you feel most confidence and comfort and for me, it's just not here in Alberta..it's backward, but I don't mean to be rude when I say that,just honest.

Britainbound1

I meant to also add that I'm sorry for the loss of your brother

scrubbedexpat091

Really only 2 issues with BC, lack of mental health coverage, and shortage of doctors making it hard to find a GP in general, let alone finding one that is a good match. Other then that, no real complaints, most issues have been seen within 3-9 months.

I only lived in AB for a year, upside to AB was when I moved there from BC (before I had PR) they covered me where BC wouldn't, and the few times I needed medical care in AB it seemed fine,but I never had any major health issues while living there.

Britainbound1

I had an operation here at the Rocky view hospital in Calgary, the surgeon damaged several nerves in the abdomen during his handy work, I was in severe pain afterwards and complained constantly to all departments and AHS officials, nobody wanted to know...2 months later the very same surgeon killed a young man doing the very same surgery..its is on the internet for all to see. I have never forgiven the AHS for not listening to me regarding this surgeon, that young man could have been saved? I ended up paying thousands of dollars going to have the nerves rectified in the USA as no-one here in Canada could help me...except for strong painkillers.

That is just one example of how it is here, I'm sure there must be capable 'specialists' here somewhere? maybe?

I hear the surgeon has now returned to Alberta, all very 'cloak and dagger'!

My advise to anyone coming here, especially to Alberta, is to really think carefully, Canada is definitely not as it is portrayed..it's very false...yes, it's clean, relatively safe, spacious etc but underneath the natural beauty of the lakes and mountains lies a hard, uncaring, 'head down mouth shut' culture that they like to keep quiet until you arrive here. That is especially within the workplace...horrible, and I am not alone in that opinion. Canada seems to have a long way to go to be part of the 21st century, not it's fault I suppose as it's a young country but if you have a fairly nice life where you are then think long and hard, Canada owes you nothing even if you want to try and be successful here, they resent it.

On the other hand it has worked out well for some folk, but if it helps anyone for me to say, please don't think that you are coming to Utopia, you won't be unless your life is dire where you are now.
I may get backlash from my comments but I won't be swayed from them, I'm usually a mild mannered person who will 'Go with the flow' but not when I can see people hoping for this wonderful new life, you are 'green' to the way it is here, like I was, and I have tried and tried to adapt and accept but enough is enough, I want to enjoy my years instead of living here miserable, And they wonder why there are so many mental health issues here...it's a difficult place to live, that's why!

Sorry!

scilly

Britainbound ................

First, thank you for your sympathy re my brother. I really miss him, and will never forgive the NHS for what they did.

Second ........... I am sorry that you have had such a terrible impression of Canada.

I'm one of those many who have settled well, have had nothing but good happen here, have never regretted immigrating into Canada, and would always advise someone to "give it a try".

Maybe you just ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Alberta is not, and never has been, the rest of Canada, despite what Albertans might think.


I hope things go well for you back in the UK.

Britainbound1

Thank you sciily, yes, I too think I've formed a bad general impression of Canada from what we have experienced here, my husband was 'head hunted' for a project in Alberta for his knowledge and skill regarding a huge billion dollar Government project in Alberta...he was quality assurance and quality control officer on the project and he was astounded by the unsafe and dangerous work practices here, it was enough to make your hair curl what goes on 'behind the scenes' when he tried to educate the workforce to do things properly he was bullied and basically told to keep quiet or else, and he's no wimp by any means but we soon learnt that you can't win here, it's the Canadian way or no way..dangerous or not! He left there and we still think that the place will go up in flames one day as it's a 'tinder box' and every time we drive past it we look at each other as we know how it is behind those walls, he attempted to report to relevant people, but yet again, he was told to keep it buttoned,he has proof! Yet the people of Alberta think it's the most wonderful accomplishment but they are not to know as it's swept under the carpet...as I said before, it's very false here.

I'm glad you have done well in BC, it does appear to be much nicer than Alberta?

Thank you for your good wishes for our return to the UK, I miss the life I had there, a beautiful house in an idylic village setting, we worked hard for it and it was lovely, church bells on a Sunday and the village pub with the locals lol..we often wonder why ever did we give it all up? I think it was the lure of something new and we were promised so much by the Canadian recruiter who approached my hubby, the UK economy was somewhat unstable at the time and we were a little worried for the future of the kids leaving school to find work, it was a bit 'dog eat dog' back then in 2009 although things are much better now by all accounts?

Our children wish to remain in Canada which I can understand although they have had their struggles here too..it's hard, as it heartbreaking to think of leaving them but I can't stay here, it sucks the life out of you, it has no soul.

I feel like I've been planning the 'Great escape' since the day I landed, that's no way to live

I truly wish everyone luck and yes, give it a try, you can always go home again..it can dent the old bank balance coming backwards and forwards but that's life!

Siouxie

Britainbound1 do please make sure you have applied for your Canadian Citizenship before you leave for good - with your children (and potential grandchildren in the future) remaining in Canada, it would be heartbreaking not to be able to live here with them if you decided at some point in the future that you would like to.

I'm sorry that you have not enjoyed your years in Canada, your experiences will certainly have had a huge negative impact on your opinions, but one City in one Province (and perhaps one department in one Provincial Govt.) .. or one surgeon in one hospital.. isn't Canada.. it's unfortunate that you didn't move elsewhere once it became clear that you no longer enjoyed your life in Calgary / Alberta. I can't fault the medical care I and other family members have received in Ontario... and I'm another who has been happy in Canada since day 1 and am still happy after more than 18 years. Each to their own - what suits one doesn't suit another.. but every person has to decide that for themselves. Would it be worth moving to another Province perhaps.. or thinking about it... if not then I hope your move back to the UK is a happy one.

Canuck74

Canadian Health Care is poor compared to the NHS. Long waits in the emergency in Canada compared to the AE here. My mother waited in emergency for 12 hours in a hospital in outside of Montreal to see a doctor. Very poor health care in Canada.

Britainbound1

Thank you Siouxie. Yes, I have both actually, Canadian citizenship and 2 beautiful Grandchildren....they are the ones that melt my heart, I keep thinking ''I can't leave them'' but I fall back into being'unhappy in Canada with them' or happy back home where my heart is but without them'...its soooo tough I feel like a bad nanny wanting to leave but my daughter in law is from Ontario and wants to move back at some point so I could be waving them off and be stuck here...I'm reluctant to 'up sticks' and try another province as it's taken me 10 years to accept life here! If we did move province I have 2 other children that would remain in Alberta.

I may try a 12 month 'stint' back in the UK and see how it goes...we have elderly parents in their 90's still living at home but are starting to struggle and need our help, so maybe kill 2 birds with one stone?

The kids and grandchildren can come over in those 12 moths and enjoy a bit of home

Who knows? I could wake up one morning with a completely new outlook on Canada...time will tell.

I'm sorry if I've offended anyone with my views, maybe a little selfish to 'spout off' but it's been quite the harrowing time living here for us and I still maintain that it's a tough country to thrive in unless you 'know the right people' or accept the nepotism that exists amongst other things.

Sorry if I have diverted from the original thread regarding health care!

JamesM

Agreed.

The NHS is wider reaching and more comprehensive.

Prescriptions are capped under the NHS.

The NHS also covers the dentist.

Even with OHIP I incur a cool $500+ a year on unexpected medical costs.

If you are lucky to work for a large corporation or the government with a good benefits package then it is very different but most people here are at the mercy of unexpected costs.

scilly

Maybe like here, waits in emergency in the UK depend partly on where you live.

I've just been in contact with 2 friends in the UK ............ one is worrying because her neighbour waited 4 hours for an ambulance to arrive to take her to Emergency in south-eastern England. She had still not returned home 8 hours later.

The other friend reported having to go for a brain scan after falling slipping on a banana in Tesco's .......... arrived at A&E 10 am, let out at 9 pm. That was near the New Forest.

We've not had waits here in BC anywhere near what your mother had in PQ, and that included having to go to the largest hospital in BC with one of the busiest Emergency rooms.

london.2014

With regard to the quality of healthcare professionals I can tell you it's poorer than UK.

NHS is definitely NOT great and there are a lot of poorly skilled doctors, but at least in the UK you have the option of going private and seeing a world class specialist if you must.

In Canada there is no such option, you only get to see whatever is part of the AHS and that's all. If you don't like your specialist you can't do anything about it. You can change family doctors (GP equivalents) and just visit another health clinic, sure, but once you are referred to a specialist professional then there is no alternative, and from my limited experience to date in Alberta I am planning to follow up with my UK specialists for important health issues.

Of course everyone's experiences may vary, so just take this as one data point. Who knows, I may have just been unlucky.