Orphaned patients and prescription renewals
Re: “Drug refills after my family doctor retired,” letter, Jan. 10.
We too recently were orphaned when our doctor passed suddenly, leaving us with no solution but long waits at clinics.
We’ve read the recent letter encouraging the government to allow pharmacists be allowed to renew unchanged prescriptions for stable clients.
Makes perfect sense to me. In our case it would mean the system saving the cost of at least eight unnecessary clinic visits. Plus saving many hours of wasted time and stress waiting in a clinic.
This practical solution would also allow clinic doctors more time to treat patients truly in need.
Joe and Yvonne Artibise
Colwood
Time wasted with prescription renewals
The issue brought to our attention by the letter-writer is dire for a lot of people, including me. My GP retired in December, three days after I saw him and when he renewed two heart-related prescriptions for two consecutive three-month periods.
He emailed after that visit advising me to go to the website of the B.C. physicians and surgeons and try to find a new GP. He couldn’t, or wouldn’t, even recommend one. Just how many people in B.C. have to do that?
I, for one, will follow that letter-writer’s advice and on a daily basis email a letter to Health Minister Adrian Dix demanding he change our current system, which doesn’t allow pharmacists to renew our meds, without patients having to attend — and wait and wait at — a walk-in clinic.
Lorne Peasland
Saanich
They should focus on municipal issues
Re: “Together Victoria nominates Stefanie Hardman to run in Victoria byelection,” Jan. 5.
Stefanie Hardman, the newly nominated Together Victoria candidate for the municipal byelection, says: “by voting for me, you have voted to do politics differently.” But according to the article, she’s pre-occupied with the concerns of renters, the homeless and low-paid workers.
How is this politics done differently?
The last thing that Victoria needs is yet another municipal politician focused on issues that are a provincial responsibility. We already have a city council predominated by like-minded individuals, with little to show for their efforts. The number of homeless has not decreased despite endless talk for years. Rents continue to increase. Is it any wonder, given that these are primarily provincial responsibilities?
And what exactly is a municipal politician going to do about the plight of “low-paid workers,” whose wages and working conditions are set by the provincial government?
Can we please hear from a candidate who is genuinely concerned about municipal issues?
Here are examples:
• The stalled amalgamation process.
• Falling property values.
• Ensuring value for taxpayer dollars.
• Aging roads and infrastructure.
• Public transit.
• Keeping major businesses downtown.
• Attracting new business and stimulating the city’s economy.
• Enhancing the tourist industry.
• Assisting the high-tech industry by helping to attract skilled workers.
Chris Lawson
Victoria
Just how big a deal was it anyway?
Re: “UVic students walk out, join pipeline protest,” Jan. 11.
A better and more precise opening paragraph for this story might have been, “Less than one per cent of UVic students cut classes for a brief walk around campus Friday.” And this applies to the majority of climate-related stories, which far too often lack definition and perspective.
George Manning
Langford
Respect for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex
It doesn’t matter if you’re a royalist or not, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex first and foremost are human beings and deserve to be treated with the same respect and dignity that you also deserve.
Prince Harry did not choose his parents and life situation, anymore than you chose yours.
Can you imagine your life if every time you stepped outside of your home you were accosted by a mob of rude photographers?
Stop for a moment and think about it. What a horrible way to live. A gilded cage is still a cage. At some point no amount of money is worth the high price of not having any sovereignty over your own life.
As a community, let’s respect their desire for privacy. Let’s treat others the way we would like to be treated. Speak kind words instead of nasty words. It’s just the right thing to do.
JC Siemens
Victoria
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• Mail: Letters to the editor, Times Colonist, 2621 Douglas St., Victoria, B.C. V8T 4M2.
