Andrea Ritcey, a music teacher from Nova Scotia, recently suffered a serious hand injury during the Thanksgiving Day long weekend. Ritcey, who is also recovering from stage 3 endometrial cancer, had to wait nearly two weeks for surgery on her hand, despite the urgency of the situation. She expressed frustration over the state of the province’s health care system, noting that the pain she experienced was incomparable to anything she had experienced before. Ritcey severed an artery, nerve, and muscle in her hand, requiring immediate medical attention.
Ritcey’s surgery was rescheduled multiple times, causing her to fast and forego medication each time in preparation. She emphasized the dangers of the shortage of surgeons in Nova Scotia, as patients are being bumped and facing delays in necessary procedures. Now facing a lengthy recovery period, Ritcey questions whether an earlier surgery date would have improved her outcome, especially considering the impact on her livelihood as a musician. She plays the piano and guitar, among other instruments, and relies heavily on her hands for her work.
In response to Ritcey’s case, a spokesperson from Nova Scotia Health stated that they are focused on providing the best care possible to patients, although they cannot comment on specific cases for privacy reasons. The spokesperson highlighted the efforts made to ensure surgical patients are ready for their procedures and mentioned positive trends in surgical volumes and wait lists decreasing. Patients who feel they did not receive appropriate care are encouraged to contact Patient Relations for assistance.
Ritcey’s experience with the health care system is not isolated, as she recalls a previous incident where she waited for eight hours in the emergency room in excruciating pain despite having a yellow card indicating her cancer diagnosis and need for priority care. Feeling neglected and unsupported, she left without receiving the necessary treatment. Ritcey’s concerns extend beyond her own experiences and she believes that Nova Scotia’s health care system is in crisis, impacting the well-being and future of all residents who require medical attention.
As Ritcey faces a prolonged recovery from her hand injury, she reflects on the challenges she has faced within the health care system and questions the adequacy of resources and support available to patients in Nova Scotia. Despite the positive trends mentioned by Nova Scotia Health, she believes that significant improvements are needed to address the ongoing issues and delays that are affecting the quality of care provided to patients. Ritcey’s advocacy for better health care highlights the urgent need for reform and increased support for individuals navigating the system in Nova Scotia.
